John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have two issues. First, I want to follow up on TRIPS and the need for a waiver in that regard. I want to challenge the Minister of State, and I think it is the correct thing to do, regarding his statement that the world would be in a much worse position without the EU. The reality is that the Delta variant is now wreaking havoc across the world because of the failure of the global community to address the issue of intellectual property rights. The longer we drag our heels as an international community in addressing the fundamental issue here, the greater the likelihood of more variants arising. To use a well-rehearsed phrase, until everyone is out of this, no one is out of this. Therefore, the international community, the Government and the European Union have an obligation to lead on this issue and to waive intellectual property rights and, if necessary, to provide the facilities to allow countries the means to develop and install the required infrastructure. We are not going to be out of this situation in the next 12 months, so there is going to be a long-term need in this regard.

Second, I turn to the motion regarding Israeli annexation passed by the Oireachtas last month. While there were many statements on Belarus, and rightly so, and much talk about sanctions being imposed on Russia and other measures being taken, there was a distinct lack of a single mention regarding the passing of the motion in this Dáil concerning the illegal actions of Israel in annexing Palestinian land. What measures are going to be taken in that regard are equally important. The failure of the Government to address this point or to raise it at European level is concerning. As we sit here, more than 1,500 Palestinians are being forced out of their homes in the Silwan area of occupied East Jerusalem as their houses are pulled to the ground and not a word has been mentioned at the European Council level. I ask the Minister of State to comment on this issue and address why there is such hypocrisy at European level. We are quick to impose sanctions on other countries and regimes but we allow Israel to continuously breach international and humanitarian law and abuse human rights.

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