Mr. Gerry Kiely:

I thank the Members for their questions. On vaccine distribution, the Commission has already put forward a paper to member states prompting discussion. It remains to be seen, but as far as availability through a central body is concerned, whether a commission or some other body, it will be a function of population, front-line workers and priority needs. We are not yet at the stage of saying X country will get Y number of vaccines, but there is a discussion taking place. I suppose it will come down to some function of population, front-line workers, people in need, demographics, etc., at the beginning, until vaccine production ramps up.

The issue of fake news is not new. The Commission and the European External Action Service, EEAS, have in place monitoring to address the question of fake news in general and have beefed up this in the context of Covid.

I do not know how long more the relaxation of state aid rules will stand. Neither the Commission nor the member states have given any indication in that regard other than to say it is not a permanent arrangement. Of course, before there was ever a relaxation due to Covid, member states were allowed to grant state aid under specific rules.

As for the Next Generation funds, the key for their allocation has been already agreed. As I mentioned, this was done on the basis of population, GDP and unemployment over recent years for 70% of the grant part of Next Generation. The grant part amounts to €315 billion, 70% of which has been distributed to the member states. Ireland got, I think, €1.27 billion. The 30% will be decided in 2022 or 2023, I think, on the basis of the impact of Covid. As for the drawing down of that money, it is up to each member state to put forward its programme or plan. Some member states have submitted draft plans already. We have been asking for them since November. The deadline for the plans is, I believe, next April. The drawing down and spending of the money on each sector will be subject to discussion between the member state authorities and the Commission. Subsequently, I believe those plans will have to be approved by the member states in a Council body.

Youth unemployment is a problem not just because of Covid; it has been a problem for decades and was a particular problem post the economic crash. Many EU schemes focusing on youth unemployment are already in place. In the future MFF, it was already foreseen that there would be a very strong emphasis on funding to deal with youth unemployment, whether through education, training, apprenticeships, etc. As for the drawing down of the Next Generation EU funds, it is for the member states to determine where they will focus the spending of that money. Certainly, youth unemployment is worse due to Covid. There is no question about that, and I agree totally with Senator Chambers's comments. It is not, however, a new development and the Commission has not just discovered it. The focus has been there and, as I said, was very much reinforced in the MFF for the future.