Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a script for the last contribution which deals with the issues laid out by the Taoiseach. Almost none of them, except Turkey, has been raised in the debate but they are very important. I will speak on Turkey at the end of the debate as there is quite a detailed script on it.

With regard to the vaccines, we are very hard on ourselves in this Chamber as regards what the European Union in doing about vaccines. At every European Council, General Affairs Council and health ministers Council there has been extensive discussion on vaccines and Covid-19. Of course, there is sharing of experience and information. The decision was taken to come together as one on vaccination and it is fair to say that it has been very much in our interest. It has also been an extraordinary success. The official figures are not published daily but, according to what Professor MacCraith announced, Ireland is after Malta at the top of the vaccine distribution list. That is a great credit to the system, workers, volunteers and administration here and the Government in terms of rolling it out.

There is also the global vaccine supply, which is very important.

I share the genuine moral and practical health concerns of everybody here regarding getting everyone around the world vaccinated. Let us not forget that the European Union is the largest exporter of vaccines in the world. Europe has shown great moral leadership on global vaccine sharing. We have not closed the door, and that has been to our own disadvantage because many more of us would have been vaccinated if we had an export ban in place. Regarding our manufacturing capacity, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh mentioned the other issues apart from the TRIPS waiver. However, our vaccine manufacturing capacity will be of far greater help to the developing world than a TRIPS waiver which may allow production but would not address the question of where that production is going to take place. It would probably end up taking place within the European Union.

Therefore, efforts are being made to share technical know-how because it is very difficult to manufacture vaccines. Ireland, with Pfizer, is going to start being a part of the manufacturing process. It is not possible, however, to simply repurpose pharmaceutical factories for vaccine production. Such facilities generally have to be specially designed. EU member states have committed to donating at least 100 million doses of vaccine by the end of 2021. The G7 talks referred to donations of 870 million doses. Therefore, the EU’s participation in those recent G7 discussions, which agreed that additional commitment for the provision of vaccines globally, was very important. The EU submitted a proposal on 4 June to the TRIPS council regarding a global trade initiative for equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics.

I reiterate, however, that production capacity is the key issue. Apart from our own manufacturing capacity, the European Commission announced €1 billion in funding for the building of production capacity in Africa to create long-term sustainable production capacity on that continent. Therefore, we are doing a great deal in the European Union. I share people's concerns in this regard but a massive amount is being done and but for the European Union, the rest of the world would be in a much worse place.

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