Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 May 2018
153. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the steps she is taking to protect jobs in Russian-owned companies based here that may be threatened by increased tariffs and trade sanctions. [21965/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is very much aware of the potential impact of these sanctions and the situation, in particular, faced by Aughinish Alumina. My Department, together with the IDA and the Departments of Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs and Trade, continue to keep the situation under careful review. I have spoken directly with the CEO of Aughinish, as have the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, and we have made it clear that the Government will do everything possible to assist the company. Similarly, the IDA has been liaising closely with the firm’s senior management since details of the sanctions first emerged. The matter has also been raised through diplomatic channels with our international partners.
We understand – as has been widely reported – that efforts may be underway by the parent companies of Aughinish to restructure their respective ownerships. If this restructuring proves successful, and the US authorities expressly agree, it could result in the sanctions against the companies in question being lifted, meaning that Aughinish itself may then no longer be impacted. However, there is no guarantee that this will happen and that is why the Government will continue to engage very closely with Aughinish and provide it with all the support it can.
