Limerick TD and Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan has said the decision by the United States Authorities to remove Aughinish Alumina from a sanction list is massive boost for Limerick and the wider region.
“Over the last number of months as the local TD and Minister I’ve been working on a weekly basis with the management at Aughinish ensuring that every possible resource in Government was channelled to make sure Aughinish secured the best outcome.
“I met on countless occasions with my colleagues in Government, including the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Heather Humphreys to ensure that the importance of Aughinish was kept at the top of their agendas.
“I travelled to the US to meet representatives of the Treasury, State Department, Members of the Senate and House of Representatives both as a representative of the Irish Government and more importantly as the local TD for Limerick to push the case for Aughinish and its employees and our local area.
“Aughinish is a key part of the global supply of aluminium so the decision taken in Washington will provide certainty. It is important for all of us to bear in mind that the decision is still subject to a thirty day review period by the US Congress.
“I can say that every piece of our Government has worked to deliver this result. I know from my ongoing dealings in government that the leadership shown by our Taoiseach and Ministers and the tireless work by our officials across several departments with our diplomats in Washington has been magnificent.
“The close cooperation between the company’s local management, our Government and the US Authorities have got us where we are now and as the local TD and Government Minister I can say no stone has been left unturned on this journey. I hope after the next thirty days that the company moves forward with renewed ambition in Limerick.
