Mr. Jim Clarken:

I thank the Deputy very much for her question. Before I get to that answer, on this constant referring to the big threat to pharma created by this, the reality is that pharma has never seen profits like it has seen in recent years, and many new billionaires have been created in the pharma industry. While it did extraordinary work and everybody wants to give the credit for it, the idea that somehow this temporary waiver which we keep reiterating, which is a waiver based within a rules-based system that already exists, will somehow greatly and detrimentally damage pharma and the development of medications into the future is just not believable, to be perfectly honest. I give tremendous credit to the industry to adapt, evolve, move within the spaces that are there, and make profits, because is what it does. There is nothing wrong with that. Let us just not keep knocking that one back that it will somehow lead to devastation of the industry. It will not.

On the question that this must be on a human rights and health needs basis rather than some charitable act where, when we are ready to provide vaccines to poorer countries, we will, we know what happened at the start of this. Wealthy countries raced to push others out of the way to get as many vaccines as they could, even fighting among themselves, let alone with countries in the global south. We cannot have a system that allows that to happen again because everybody will be affected.

Let us remember that even from a self-interest point of view, which should not be the way we think about these things, the longer this goes on, the greater the possibility of new variants arising and the more it will affect everybody. Even economically, if that is the way one wants to look at it, the International Chamber of Commerce reckons that $9.2 trillion is going to be lost because of the pandemic and because of our inability to get our hands around it fast enough. This will roll on and on. The countries we are talking about are vital countries for us and for the world. I am just putting that argument, which would not be of our core argument, just to put it out there.

On this issue, Ireland has traditionally shown tremendous leadership and courage. We were speaking to our colleagues at the UN Security Council earlier this week about the work they are doing in pushing into very difficult spaces and trying to resolve issues by using the Irish moral standing and respect the country has across the world to push agenda items. Here is another one where Ireland can make a difference. We know it is a European decision, but to answer the Deputy’s question directly, it will be decided by the trade element of Government, and in this case the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Varadkar, will be the representative in that space. This is the right place as far as we are concerned to be discussing this issue and I know the Chair appreciates that.

We emphasise that if every country sits back and waits for this to happen, it will not happen. Ireland can make a difference, is very credible, has deservedly built up this very strong reputation, has sacrificed as a result of it and is willing to do so. We plead with the committee to urge the Minister and the Government to make a decision to support the TRIPS waiver or the elements to it that are essential in order for vaccines to be created locally to give that autonomy of supply to ensure the rest of the world will be vaccinated. There is no doubt in my mind that we will be waiting for years if we are to continue on the current basis. We have a solution. It is not perfect but we know it can work. We have the examples of what happened in the past where a transformation can be made when the political courage is there. We plead with the committee and the Government to move, to agree to the TRIPS waiver and to bring its voice to the table in Europe to try to have it change its position also.