Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Harkin, Dr. McMahon and Ms Byanyima for their contributions, which were very insightful and enlightening. My Green Party colleague has written to the Department of Foreign Affairs, which provides the lion's share of Ireland's overseas development assistance, to request that Ireland uses its seat on the UN Security Council to advocate on behalf of the countries worst affected and least capable of overcoming the pandemic. In addition, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh has written to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, inquiring as to whether he will support C-TAP. Our party believes further avenues of international co-operation and assistance in addition to COVAX should be explored and leveraged to maximise equitable access and distribution of vaccines in developing countries now and in the longer term.

With respect to international efforts, the fast response of Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the WHO in initiating and leading of the work of COVAX should be applauded. It is an important demonstration of collaboration and solidarity to support vulnerable developing countries as they work to overcome Covid-19. It is important that Ireland supports this initiative to the greatest extent possible through funding and our knowledge and experience of public health emergencies. It is also welcome to see the aim of the COVAX initiative is to protect at least 20% of each participating population by the end of the year. Given the task at hand, this is no small feat but the efforts of COVAX will not be sufficient to fully address the challenge and its various aspects.

Some issues and questions that come to mind are technical, operational and political. Could the witnesses address whether health services will be sufficiently staffed and trained to administer vaccines in a timely manner and how we can ensure the safety of access in countries that are politically fragile? There is a question about adequate storage and transport facilities and how we put those in place for the distribution of vaccines at centres and hospitals. I thank the Chairman for bringing me in early.