`We have been great supporters of Ukraine,' Irish Minister angrily hits out at Zelensky plea over Alumina exports to Putin's Russia... as Government refuses to reveal details of French frigate defending our skies and seas

Published: 14:45, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 14:47, 7 July 2026 A government minister has hit back at Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for Ireland to stop exports of alumina to Russia even as he and his compatriots accept hospitality from the Irish people. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said at the start of Ireland’s EU Presidency last Wednesday that a review of Aughinish Alumina and its links to Russia will be done in ‘weeks’. But Mr Zelensky, at a ceremony marking the beginning of the presidency, referred to European companies controlled by sanctioned Russian oligarchs shipping materials to the Russian war effort. He also made a veiled reference to Aughinish Alumina: ‘Every ton of raw materials that ends up in Russia is used against us in this war’. The Aughinish affair overshadowed both the opening ceremony and talks between Mr Martin and Mr Zelensky. Aughinish Alumina, in Limerick, is owned by Oleg Deripaska and according to the Swedish tax authorities is still controlled by him as well. The facility is in the Limerick County constituency of Minister for State at the Department of Agriculture, Niall Collins and is a large employer in the area. Mr Collins yesterday told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘Ireland hosted President Zelensky on a number of occasions... we have been great supporters of Ukraine during this horrific attack by Russia. ‘Ireland has made itself a haven for thousands of Ukrainian war refugees and has been exceedingly generous to President Zelensky’s people.  'I do not believe it was an appropriate intervention he made at a major event here... particularly as there is a review into the matter.’ Tánaiste Simon Harris said he was not part of any discussion of a possible nationalisation of the refinery. There is evidence that some of the alumina refined in Aughinish has been present in traces of Russian ballistic missiles used in deadly attacks on Ukraine. The Ukrainian president acknowledged Ireland was still investigating the matter: ‘We are grateful to the Government and Micheál [Martin] for conducting the relevant investigation,’ he said, calling for an expedited inquiry. Mr Zelensky added: ‘I am confident whatever we are doing now, we cut every possibility for Russia to build up, to militarise itself.’ ‘As Russia’s capability for massive attacks decreases, that is reflected in the quantity of casualties in Ukraine.’ Meanwhile Tánaiste Simon Harris said he was not part of any discussion of a possible nationalisation of the refinery. He told a briefing, ‘There have to be ways of addressing the issues that enable crucial supply chains to continue into the EU and enable an absolute clarity that there’s no indirect assistance to Putin’s regime.’ Speaking yesterday, the Taoiseach said the investigation will be completed in the ‘next number of weeks’. Mr Martin added: ‘There are a number of other issues parallel with the investigation, in terms of the importance of Aughinish and other raw material that comes out of Aughinish to European industry.’ Meanwhile there is a hope in Fianna Fáil that Mr Martin will reveal a timeline for his retirement after the EU presidency ends in December. But others who spoke to the MoS see this as ‘wishful thinking’.  Said a party TD, ‘Unless a cabinet colleague publicly calls for him to go, I don’t see anything happening. And I’ve seen no evidence of that yet’. The Government has refused to reveal to the Irish Mail on Sunday any details of agreements that have seen a French warship defending our waters and airspace. Earlier this year, the MoS disclosed the contents of an internal Department of Defence assessment that admitted the State’s only anti-drone technology cannot protect two locations at the same time and does not have the capability to ‘blow drones out of the sky’. The revelation comes as major security concerns were revealed in advance of Ireland’s presidency. Senior EU, cabinet and military sources warned that Ireland will have to rely on the British and French forces to protect Irish airspace when European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Ireland. That has come to pass, since no significant details have been disclosed and the French frigate’s primary features are for neutralising airborne threats, something the Irish Defence Forces are unable to provide. The ship is believed to be 12 nautical miles off Dublin Bay – outside Irish territorial waters. There have been a number of defence agreements between the Government and France and Britain, unveiled by the Department of Defence in the months since the February revelations in the Irish Mail on Sunday. However, there is still no admission that foreign entities are wholly responsible for our air and maritime defence. The MoS this weekend asked the department to detail ‘auspices and/or agreements with the Irish Government’ that have allowed a French warship to command the approaches to our Capital. A department spokesman said: ‘We are working with partners to put the necessary security measures in place, in the same way that previous [European] Presidencies have. This is the sensible approach for the Government to take.’ The department will not say if the warship is present at their request, nor if there are any further security arrangements with the French, British, or other governments. The State’s inability to provide basic defence and security infrastructure was starkly underlined during President Zelensky’s visit to Ireland in December, when unidentified drones – believed to be part of a Russian-inspired hybrid campaign against the EU – were spotted near his plane’s flight path as it approached Dublin. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.