Dr. David Nabarro:

There is no point in having new technologies for something like Covid unless they are available to everybody, regardless of wealth, race and nationality. To have a situation whereby only people from rich countries or with a lot of cash in their pocket can get access to things that will save their lives or prevent them from being exposed to a dangerous disease is wrong and unethical. I am very pleased that the Irish Government has been unequivocal in that regard. Its position has been the right one. The proposal for a technology access pool was originally made by Costa Rica and found its way into a resolution of the World Health Assembly on 19 May. It was not pushed out by any country. What matters more than what is in the resolution is what countries do. I am still concerned that, apparently, some rich countries are buying up and making advance purchases of vaccines, as well as buying up many treatments that may be effective, for their people and friends. I seriously encourage every country to go for equity of access everywhere. Ireland must continue to be in the lead on this issue, as it has been on many others.

The Deputy asked about antibody tests. They are only useful for finding out who has the disease. They are not useful in dealing with who might have the disease at a particular point in time. Unfortunately, temperature checks are only picking up on people one, two or three days after they have become infectious.