Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

What is Ireland's position? The Minister of State spoke for a long time but he did not say what Ireland's position is. Does Ireland support extending the TRIPS waiver to diagnostics - technology other than vaccines - or does it not? Does it stand with the poorest people in the world who want to get access to the technology to be able to test for Covid, etc., or does it stand with the big pharmaceutical companies that want to keep a monopoly on those technologies in order to maximise their profits?

Where does Ireland stand? That is important to know because what is being reported is that the obstructive position in the talks is being taken by the EU, the UK, Canada and Japan which are seeking to delay progress in relation to that. Obviously, Ireland is part of the EU. What is Ireland's position? Does the Government support extending the TRIPS waiver to diagnostics and therapeutics or does it not?

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