Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their time, for their honest words and for putting Covid into a more global perspective than a national perspective. I find it morally reprehensible for any pharmaceutical company to engage in extortion of poorer countries by price gouging. I cannot think of a worse action by any company at a time like this. Dr. Nabarro is correct that people are the solution, but we will only be the solution if we are willing to take on the role of being global champions and ensuring equal and proper access to all vaccines and treatments used to save the lives of those affected by Covid.

There is another issue that has not been touched on. EU member states, like other countries, have contributed billions of euro and dollars to the pharmaceutical companies over past years, through taxpayer funds, research and development funds or other tax breaks.

This is not the time for anybody to be getting into a bickering match over intellectual property rights; it is the time to simply step up, stick on the big girl pants and do the right thing.

My questions are quite simple. One concerns C-TAP and COVAX. In the opening statement, 2023 was given as the year when people in some poorer countries will be vaccinated. Is there a tipping point whereby that target could be moved out further or brought closer depending on the level of buy-in to C-TAP? Other contributors have spoken about manufacturers refusing to engage. Have manufacturers been asked to engage? Have potential producers in other countries being directly asked to sign up to and support the programme?

On the companies based in Ireland that could manufacture the vaccine, do we know whether there is a relatively available supply of what they would need to facilitate their doing so? I believe there are half a dozen such companies. What engagement has taken place with them to determine whether they would come on board to engage in manufacturing if the conditions were right?

I understand certain countries have either overbought or over-ordered based on their populations. I stand to be corrected but I believe New Zealand either over-ordered or overbought not for its own population but for neighbouring territories that may not have been best placed to order for themselves. Is this a global trend? Is there more evidence of this solidarity or is New Zealand very much an isolated case? Of the countries that have over-ordered or overbought, how many have made an offer under the COVAX system?

We have touched on conflict zones, refugee movement and the vital job the Red Cross is doing. Regarding occupied territories, who is present to ensure people were most vulnerable are vaccinated?