Regina Doherty: “Fears around this issue in particular had been blown out of all proportion.”

I will be voting in favour of a full ban on the export of alumina from the EU to Russia. Europe cannot continue supplying strategic materials to a regime waging an illegal and brutal war on our continent.

This legislation does not create a European version of ICE in the US or the Rwanda system in the UK, saying that this was misinformation.

We need a fair and firm system, that will protect those who need international protection, but will be firm with those who do not have a legal right to stay in the EU and will make sure to enforce the law.

Every day Putin's invasion claims more innocent lives. If Europe is serious about standing with Ukraine, we cannot allow a single shipment to strengthen Russia's economy or its war machine.