Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Today was significant in the fight against this pandemic. Today, the Biden Administration made an announcement, and other Deputies have mentioned this, with regard to waving intellectual property rights. This is significant for the people's vaccine. The EU has made soundings that it will review its position. Given that an astronomical amount of public money has been given to some of these companies it is the least that humanity could expect from them. The announcement by the Biden Administration has not gone down well with some of the companies, such as Pfizer and Moderna. Their share prices have decreased. It is quite incredible that these huge companies can almost blackmail humanity in the war with this virus. This is very important.

The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association made an extraordinary statement today and I had to read it a couple of times. It is urging the Government to oppose the waiver at the WTO in June. This is incredible. Humanity is at a precipice with regard to people getting the vaccine rather than monetising and monopolising it. What is the position of the Minister for Health? What is the position of the Government? Today, the Tánaiste was quite confused about whether the Irish Government will support the EU waving intellectual property rights on the people's vaccine. That is what we deserve.

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