Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms O'Reilly. I agree that there will be many more twists and turns before this awful pandemic is finished. We have heard terrible stories from all over Europe. I thank her for her contribution. Before I allow members in, I would like to ask a couple of questions.

I would welcome Ms O'Reilly's views on the importance of the relationship in ensuring effective collaboration between Ireland and the EU on the EU issues that matter to them most. This is important in the fight against Covid-19, but it is equally important in other areas of public concern such as the Mercosur trade deal talks, which affect Ireland. How could this committee and her office could work together for the mutual benefit of the people of Ireland and the EU?

Since the pandemic struck, Ms O'Reilly has examined various aspects of the EU response, including the initial assessment of the threat of Covid to public health. She has also, to some extent, looked at the EU's negotiations with pharma companies and called for more transparency on both counts. I am interested in hearing about here findings in regard to the ECDC's initial assessment of the threat of Covid to public health. Did the fact that the EU institutions have little power in respect of health matters make the pandemic worse in the Europe and did the lack of transparency during the early days of the pandemic, especially in the Council, create problems for the EU?