REVEALED: With just over a week to go before we assume the EU Presidency, senior Justice official blasts Coalition's failure to implement one simple Brussels directive, warning: 'It could turn the whole thing into a farce for Ireland'

Published: 22:20, 22 June 2026 | Updated: 22:20, 22 June 2026 The Government has failed to enact EU laws that impose penalties for breaching sanctions on Russia with just over a week to go before Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Coalition’s failure to transpose the Brussels directive here – making Ireland one of the few EU states not to do so – is a significant embarrassment for the State, which begins the six-month Presidency on July 1. It also comes as Enterprise Minister Peter Burke this week warned of ‘big implications’ if an investigation by his Department finds products being exported by the Aughinish Alumina plant in Limerick are being used by the Russian military. Meanwhile, just last week Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee – whose current department and previous portfolio in Justice are responsible for the overseeing of sanctions – hosted European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos in Dublin for a series of engagements. Taoiseach Micheál Martin also met with EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas ahead of Ireland assuming the presidency. After the meetings, European Commission spokeswoman Siobhan McGarry declined to say if alumina will be considered in the next EU sanctions package against Russia, but added: ‘We are, with every sanctions package, looking at ways that we can close loopholes. Taoiseach Micheál Martin also met with EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas ahead of Ireland assuming the presidency ‘Always… with a goal to maximising pressure on Russia and minimising any revenues that they would take from this war.’ However, aside from concerns that the Irish alumina plant – which is ultimately controlled by Oleg Deripaska, a sanctioned oligarch in President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle – is being used to manufacture weapons used in Ukraine, Ireland has also failed to enact EU laws that imposed criminal penalties for breaches of sanctions on Russia. These laws would also make it easier for companies to participate in sanctions such as freezing Russian assets or blocking financial transfers. In April, the Irish Mail on Sunday reported confidential Department of Justice documents showed the sanctions legislation would not be in place before Ireland assumes the EU presidency. The Government has failed to enact EU laws that impose penalties for breaching sanctions on Russia with just over a week to go before Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the EU A senior Department of Justice source said at the time: ‘This will be incredibly embarrassing. Let’s face it, if they aren’t in place by now, they never will be. ‘We will be holding the Presidency of the EU while being one of the few holdouts on sanctions. It could turn the whole thing into a farce for Ireland.’ And in response to queries this week, the Department said the enactment of the EU laws will not be brought before the Dáil until the autumn. A spokeswoman explained that: ‘The drafting of the [Violation of EU Restrictive Measures] Bill has been prioritised by the Government and is ongoing, in collaboration with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Publication of the Bill is now expected during the Autumn session.’ Meanwhile, comments by Minister Burke in relation to the investigation into Aughinish Alumina have sparked fears for some 1,000 jobs at the Co. Limerick plant. The Minister told the Dáil ‘action will have to be taken’ if the probe finds alumina exported from Ireland was used by the Russian military complex. Mr Burke said he hoped to have the inquiry results ‘very shortly’. The Minister also noted 200,000 homes and the port of Foynes are powered by the Limerick plant. Russia's President Vladimir Putin The owners of Aughinish Alumina have warned that any attempt to sanction its sale of alumina to Moscow would have implications for the country’s national gas and electricity grids. The Government instigated the inquiry after The Irish Times reported Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures which showed 83 per cent of alumina exports from Ireland (200,619 tonnes) went to Russia in the first three months of 2026, while 0.6 per cent were sent to the EU. Ministers later disputed the CSO figures, saying Aughinish had informed the Department that 45 per cent of exports went to Russia. In the Dáil this week, Mr Burke insisted he ‘never implied’ the CSO ‘was incorrect in any way’. He added the management of Aughinish Alumina ‘furnished incorrect information to the CSO and they were working with the CSO to rectify’ this. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.