Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was stated in the contribution that innovation depends on intellectual property protection and it highlighted the risky business of investing in research and development. A vast and unprecedented amount of public money was allocated towards the research of these vaccines. As we are all aware, billions were given by the US Government to Moderna, which almost entirely funded the development, AstraZeneca was funded by the UK Government and the German Government provided in excess of €400 million to BioNTech, which partners with Pfizer, as we are aware. I find it difficult to see this point applying in this case. The estimate I saw was that governments had spent more than €90 billion on vaccines and therapeutics. Is it not disingenuous for pharmaceutical companies to accept in excess of €90 billion from countries across the globe to fund the vast majority of vaccine development and then say innovation is risky so we cannot have a waiver? I ask Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Moran for a response.