Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of our engagement this morning is to examine the international response and actions that Ireland can take in respect of the distribution and roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines to developing and low- and middle-income countries. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Kieran Harkin and Dr. Aisling McMahon who represent Access to Medicines Ireland, and Ms Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS. We will be joined later in the meeting by Dr. David Nabarro, the special envoy on Covid-19 for the World Health Organization, WHO. They are welcome to our engagement.

I remind witnesses of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as in any way damaging to the good name of the person or entity. If statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that compliance with any direction be observed. For witnesses attending remotely outside of the Leinster House campus, there are some limitations in respect of parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses who are physically present. In this regard, witnesses who are participating in this committee meeting from a jurisdiction outside the State are advised also that they should be especially mindful of the domestic law in the jurisdiction from which they speak and how it may apply to the evidence that may be given.

Members are reminded, and I thank the witnesses for their forbearance, of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make that person identifiable. I also remind members that they are only allowed to participate in the meeting if they are physically located on the Leinster House complex, either here in the Dáil Chamber or remotely from offices within the precincts of the Houses. For anybody watching this meeting online, some Oireachtas Members and witnesses are accessing this meeting remotely. Due to these unprecedented circumstances and the large number of people attending the meeting remotely, I ask everybody to bear with us should any issues of a technical nature arise.

In anticipation of a successful engagement, I express my appreciation to those people in the background, comprising our broadcasting team, sound engineers and everybody associated with what, on the face of it, seems a straightforward engagement. A lot of work has gone into this meeting and I am very grateful to members for their attendance and for the efforts of everybody involved.

I call Dr. Harkin to give his opening statement. He will be followed by Dr. McMahon and Ms Byanyima. I will then ask members to participate by way of a question-and-answer session, starting with Deputy Brady.