Ms Noelle O'Connell:

I thank Deputy Harkin and Senator Martin. I concur with Deputy Harkin's comments. May I turn to the carrot and stick and that old chestnut of the budget? The Deputy referred to contributions by member states to the bigger EU budget. The bigger question concerns whether we need to have a bigger budget. From a European perspective, this is interesting. The recent Eurobarometer survey considered whether the EU should have a bigger budget to overcome the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. Interestingly, across the EU an average of 54% were in favour of greater contributions by member states to ensure the EU would have a larger budget. It comes back to the question of solidarity and how enhanced solidarity can be effective in the EU in combating the effects of the coronavirus. As Deputy Harkin will be well aware, there are different ends of the spectrum in terms of which countries favour larger contributions and which do not. Ireland needs to be mindful of this. In our annual poll, we asked whether EU countries, including Ireland, should contribute more to the EU budget. This year, 41% disagreed and 35% agreed. Interestingly, 24% said they did not know. I am sure this will form part of a topic for the Conference on the Future of Europe. I fully concur on the benefits of Horizon 2020 and I concur that cross-border health directives and the European Qualifications Framework are very much reflective of the positive benefits of an EU acting in solidarity and partnership.

On Senator Martin's questions on the winter flu vaccines of other member states, there is anecdotal evidence that some member states may have a tradition of citizens taking the flu jab regularly. For example, more than 65% of UK senior citizens regularly get the flu jab whereas the figure for Poland is significantly lower. It is probably a challenge to ensure an adequate supply. As Mr. Kiely has outlined, that there are five or seven companies from which the European Commission has contractually considered taking hundreds of millions of potential vaccine doses comprises a welcome step in this regard.

As members well know, the challenges Brexit will pose on this island are significant but I hope collaboration and co-operation will still continue, but perhaps in a different format when the transition period ends at the end of this year. I hope, however, that the new format will not lessen the impact of the strong bilateral relationships that exist between our two islands, particularly in terms of co-operation and collaboration. Mr. Paul Reid of the HSE mentioned that the UK's National Health Service had sought assistance from Ireland to help with its testing. That is really welcome and it is important that it continue.