TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said he hopes the investigation into Aughinish Alumina’s exports will be completed “within the next number of weeks” as he confirmed the nationalisation of the company in Co Limerick is “not on the agenda right now”.

The company has come under international scrutiny for its Russian links. Its exports are currently being examined to see if they are linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Aughinish Alumina in Foynes is owned by Rusal which is in turn owned by Putin ally Oleg Deripaska – it has been claimed that the Irish product has been used to manufacture arms used in Ukraine by the Russian military. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press conference in Dublin Castle on Wednesday said he welcomed Ireland’s investigation into the exports of Russian-owned Auginish Alumina plant, stating that he hopes a finding will soon be brought forward.

Ahead of meeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Cork on Thursday, the Taoiseach was asked by reporters when the department’s investigation into the plan would be complete. 

“I would hope so within the next number of weeks, and then we will engage with the commission,” he said.

However, the Taoiseach said there are a number of “other issues parallel with the investigation” such as the importance of Aughinish’s raw material to European industry. 

Europe has never put alumina on the sanctions list, added Martin, stating “there are wider issues that have to be bottom out”. 

The Taoiseach denied there are any plans for the plant to be nationalised. 

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“That’s not on the agenda right now, but we will, as I say, engage with the commission, assess its importance to the wider European situation. We don’t want the material going into Russia.

“We’re also mindful of all those working there, because it can’t be easy for them to be reading about all of this, which obviously impacts on their individual livelihoods. So, we have to weigh up a lot of issues around this,” said the Taoiseach. 

Tánaiste Simon Harris earlier said he has not been involved in any discussions regarding a potential nationalisation of the Aughinish Alumina refinery.