David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I take the opportunity to welcome our guests and thank them for joining us to discuss this very important issue. Approximately 40 countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Norway in Europe, have supported the WHO's solidarity call to action and C-TAP. Can our guests give us any insights into why other countries have not done so? I also note what Dr. McMahon said earlier about the fact that we are very fortunate in now having a number of vaccines that seem to be effective. When the virus emerged initially, there was concern that it might take a very long time to develop vaccines to combat it.

Thankfully, this has happened very quickly within a year. We are all concerned about the possibility, and the fact, that the virus is mutating and is changing and has the potential to change into something even more deadly. I note Dr. Nabarro is also online and I welcome him. Perhaps when he speaks he might comment on questions such as access to non-government controlled areas of Syria. There is no guaranteed channel for vaccines for people in this area. There are other areas of conflict in the world such as Tigray, Mozambique, Libya and Rohingya in Bangladesh, and places with many refugees in Uganda and Lebanon. Will our guests comment on the possibility of these people getting vaccinated? I am also interested in hearing the views of our guests on whether these areas could become centres for more changes to the virus, leading to deadlier strains, if the people in them are not vaccinated.

It is also quite interesting to note the Government here has not said "No" to joining the call for action, but if some of the recent responses from the Minister are to be considered, is examining the situation fairly strongly. I hope we will be in a position to do so before too long. This time last year, this issue was just starting so things have moved very quickly.

The AIDS epidemic was absolutely catastrophic. I take on board in particular what has been said by the director of UNAIDS. This pandemic is even more deadly because it is even more transferable and has the potential to really and truly cause devastation throughout the world. The Government here should sign the solidarity call to action as soon as possible. I note a number of other European countries have done so.

Throughout the world, is there a lot more capacity to produce the vaccines to the standard required? I stand to be corrected but in Ireland we have many pharmaceutical companies but I am not aware of our companies producing any vaccine.