Ireland's Sanctions Loophole: Steel, Alumina, and Iran Parts

Ireland has positioned itself as Europe's moral conscience on Israel, but newly uncovered trade data tells a different story. Irish-origin iron and steel exports to Russia have surged 340% since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, while Dublin quietly approved aviation parts to Iran and hosts a growing number of Russian-linked trusts. This episode examines the mechanics of sanctions evasion through intermediary countries like Turkey and Kazakhstan, the Aughinish alumina pipeline feeding Russian weapons manufacturers, and the structural capacity gaps that leave Ireland's twelve-person enforcement team unable to keep up. Is this hypocrisy, or a coherent if uncomfortable logic at work?