The Government has been accused of a “head-in-the-sand approach” to exports of Irish-produced alumina after reports that it ends up in the supply chain for Russian weapons used in the war in Ukraine.Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan made the charge during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil on Thursday, with Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke responding that his department is investigating the matter, including seeking evidence from Ukraine. In March, an investigation by The Irish Times, carried out in co-operation with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), found that the Aughinish Alumina plant in Co Limerick was shipping vast amounts of alumina to smelters in Russia. There, it is used to make aluminium, which is then sold to a trading company, ASK, that supplies dozens of Russian arms manufacturers. The trade in alumina is not restricted by European Union sanctions against Russia, nor was it included in the latest round of proposed EU sanctions announced this week.Last week, The Irish Times reported that Rusal, the company that owns Aughinish Alumina, continues to be controlled by sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, according to a confidential report by Swedish tax authorities.Deripaska, a billionaire and ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, is under EU sanctions over his role in supporting the invasion of Ukraine through the manufacture of Russian military hardware.In the Dáil on Thursday, O’Callaghan said that on Tuesday night, “missiles rained down on the Kharkiv region bringing injury and death to the civilian population”, including killing a 22-year-old pregnant woman and seriously injuring a one-year-old child. This is the brutality caused by drones and missiles that land on Ukrainian homes on a daily basis.”He said alumina exports to Russia have increased, and highlighted the report by Swedish tax authorities about Deripaska.O’Callaghan said: “This Government’s head-in-the-sand approach is in sharp contrast to decisive action that was taken by Australia. “They banned the export of alumina to Russia as soon as it invaded Ukraine. The Australians didn’t want to play any part whatsoever in feeding Putin’s murderous war. Instead, they said they would work with companies and exporters impacted by the ban to find new markets and expand existing ones.”Russia “had to look elsewhere to find replacements [for the Australian supply], including Aughinish Alumina”.O’Callaghan asked if the Government would stop the export of alumina to Russia.Burke responded: “I absolutely share the concern that you have raised” and that is the reason for his department’s investigation. Burke said his department’s inquiry is “to ascertain the evidence impartially, working with the European Commission, working with the Swedish authorities ... and also working with Aughinish Alumina, trying to ascertain the truth.” Burke also said Aughinish Alumina is “the largest supplier of alumina in a European context”, that what it produces is a “critical raw material”, relied upon for so many parts of every economy in areas like medical devices, cars and the food sector.O’Callaghan asked whether the Ukrainian government has been asked for samples of drones and missiles so they can be forensically examined to establish any links with alumina exports from the Republic.Burke said: “We have spoken to the Ukrainian government and we have asked them for the evidence that they are in possession of in relation to the allegation that’s before us here. So they are currently engaging with the department in relation to that.”He also said the Government has been advised that “a large proportion of that alumina is reimported back into the European Union from smelters in Russia. We have to assess all that. “We will not tolerate in any shape or form if exports from Ireland are advancing the cause of the Russian aggression in Ukraine.”