Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It would never have provided the magic solution that was suggested when it was advocated. There is no single or simple answer except that we must improve production capacity within Africa. The European Union is uniquely the global organisation that will do just that. Africa currently imports 99% of its vaccines and 94% of its medicines. That is unsustainable and we must work within the EU with our partners in Africa. There is a summit coming up and the European Union, through technology transfers in the short term, wants to deal with vaccine shortages. It must also deal with distribution and logistics within many of the countries. The question will no longer be about production or supply for the remainder of 2022 but rather distribution and getting vaccines into the arms of people. That is something on which the European Union is committed to engaging with African partners on, with an overall package for Africa. I am pushing strongly as Taoiseach that the European Council, along with the European Commission, should advocate a specific package for Africa in the context of Covid-19 and in the more medium term.

Irish Aid and other organisations must refocus in the short term to help with the vaccine effort in the countries we help or support more generally across food, health and so on. There is an interdependence as nobody will be safe until everybody is safe. I think the production challenges are resolved and the imperative now is to strengthen co-ordination with partners to address the question of distribution and the logistical challenges of getting vaccines.

It is interesting that in eastern Europe, where there has been access to vaccines, uptake is still at 50% or 60% in some cases. It illustrates my point that a stage will come when it will not just be a question of supply but of getting vaccinations done.

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