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

I thank Ms Keatinge. I also thank Ms Van Lieshout for co-ordinating this meeting. I again express my appreciation to Dóchas and all the agencies for the work they continue to do, especially since they are now doing that work in the context of a global pandemic. It is clear from the contributions this morning, our engagement and the international reporting community that the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on women and girls is a matter of deep concern. It is most worrying, whether those impacts are in the areas of health, education and-or food security and nutrition or in the context of gender-based violence. The impact of Covid-19, while not yet fully assessed, is most stark, and that is why this committee felt our engagement this morning was so important.

I have no doubt that this is an issue that the members of this committee will be returning to, and I note the interest of Deputy Clarke and others. I expect this subject will be on our agenda again as we move towards the summer and, hopefully, a clear pathway emerges regarding how the international community will be able to deal with the scourge of Covid-19. This committee will continue to prioritise the implementation of our report, which was published within the last ten days, on ensuring an equitable distribution of vaccines throughout the world, especially in areas of considerable disadvantage and less development. On behalf of the committee, I thank the witnesses for their engagement and for dealing with our queries. I thank them even more for leaving us with several priority takeaways we will be keen to work on.