David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with a number of colleagues. Is the Government going to support the TRIPS Agreement waiver appeal that has been submitted by India and South Africa to the World Trade Organization? As the Minister knows, this would involve a temporary waiving of certain intellectual property rights. If it is implemented, it will bolster supply of Covid vaccines, which we all want to see, and send a huge message of solidarity to developing countries, especially those, like India, that are really struggling with Covid infections and need to see a real urgency in regard to the vaccine roll-out. A waiver would mean a much greater supply of vaccines in this State and right around the world.

The appeal is supported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Oxfam. It is gaining widespread popular support because there is a logic to it. It is part of the European citizens' initiatives, No Profit on Pandemic and Right to Cure, that were commenced by a whole range of political parties and organisations in the European Union. I commend the former Sinn Féin Deputy, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, who has played a major role in representing the State in that campaign at European level. The Biden Administration in the United States is now supporting the waiver. What is the official position of the Government in this regard and does it intend to take a strong position in terms of the EU's approach?

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