Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to be clear with the Deputy that the Irish Government and people absolutely do care. The Irish response to the pandemic has been rooted in our commitment to the principle of universal and equitable access to vaccines and treatments. We will continue to use our influence across the world on that. It is right and fair to say, and I acknowledged it in my opening comments, that billions have been invested from the public purse by countries and governments all over the world on behalf of their taxpayers. That, in conjunction with many billions spent before that on developing those drugs, has enabled us to be in our current position with regard to vaccines and a number of treatments. It is about how we utilise that wisely to get it to those who need it in all developing countries and situations where there is poverty, as well as continuing to be able to invest in treatments and drugs for future emergencies. We have to get that right. We know it is important to make sure there is equitable access to those vaccines around the world.

Ireland will continue to engage with the European Commission and other member states on the EU position for the WTO negotiations and discussions on how the flexibilities within the TRIPS agreement can contribute to increasing manufacturing capacity and equitable access to vaccines around the world. Consideration of this matter must balance industry’s research and innovation costs and the importance of maintaining a workable IP regime with the importance of ensuring fair, equitable access to medicines and medicinal products during this public health crisis. That balance is key to protecting future investment from all of us - taxpayers, private, etc. We will get the best bang for our buck by putting the two together.

We recognise and are clear in the Government that global access to vaccination is essential to curbing the spread and future mutations of the Covid-19 virus. Ensuring developing countries have access to vaccines is a complex endeavour involving a number of policy and operational areas, such as manufacturing, supply, distribution, transport, storage, capacity to manage vaccination campaigns and the uptake of vaccines by citizens in the countries concerned.

While the production of Covid-19 vaccines has substantially increased globally, fair distribution and diversifying production remain major objectives and ones we have to achieve. I think we can agree on that. The focus is shifting from vaccine production to administering vaccines and how strengthening health systems and preparedness is pivotal to the achievement of the 70% vaccination target.

We have to come at this from a range of areas but we are committed to the agenda of making sure there is fair and equitable access to vaccines across the world. That is something the Government will continue to do on behalf of the Irish people.

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