Results 19,321-19,340 of 21,096 for speaker:Charles Flanagan

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: 881. To ask the Minister for Health when consideration will be given to making the Covid-19 vaccine available for funeral directors and undertakers in view of the nature of their work in the context of the distribution of vaccine nationwide. [5923/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: The purpose of our engagement this morning is to examine the international response and actions that Ireland can take in respect of the distribution and roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines to developing and low- and middle-income countries. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Kieran Harkin and Dr. Aisling McMahon who represent Access to Medicines Ireland, and Ms Winnie Byanyima, executive...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Dr. Harkin and Dr. McMahon for their presentations. Ms Byanyima has joined us and is very welcome. I invite her to make her opening statement. I apologise for my-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Ms Byanyima is very welcome. She joins us from Geneva, I understand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Ms Byanyima for her presentation and for agreeing to stay with us for our questions and answers session. Since my understanding is that we have not been joined by Dr. David Nabarro yet, I will commence the questions and answers session with the three witnesses who have already contributed. I call Deputy John Brady.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: There are a number of questions from Deputy Brady that he has not directed at any one individual but perhaps I might get a brief response from Dr. Harkin, Dr. McMahon and Ms Byanyima.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: We are joined by Dr. Nabarro from the WHO, who is welcome. Given the time constraints, I propose to go to Deputies Stanton and Leddin next, to direct their questions or observations to the relevant witnesses and then go to Dr. Nabarro.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Deputy Leddin. Before I call Dr. Nabarro, I want to revert to the panel with the questions from Deputies Stanton and Leddin. I refer to Dr. McMahon's response to the points raised by Deputy Stanton. Could I put it to her that the herd immunity through vaccination that we thought was possible late last year and early this year is now unlikely to be possible because of the emergence...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I am going to move on to our fourth guest. I am pleased that we are joined this morning by Dr. David Nabarro, the special envoy on Covid-19 from the World Health Organization. I thank Dr. Nabarro for joining us. I trust that he will make a brief submission to our committee and will be in a position to stay with us until approximately 12 noon. Several members have offered for questions. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Dr. Nabarro for his contribution. Before we return to questions, I remind members that the clock is ticking and we have to conclude our deliberations by 12 noon, in accordance with the Covid-restricted atmosphere in our Parliament. I will group the questions, therefore, which I am sure they will assent to. I will call Senator Joe O'Reilly, to be followed by Deputy Berry and Deputy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I will take Deputy Gary Gannon in this round and then return to the panel.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Perhaps we will start with Dr. Harkin, who has not contributed for some time. Members asked a number of specific questions. I ask that we focus to some extent on Ireland's role, as highlighted by Deputy Gannon. Dr. McMahon spoke of the Government's leverage in this matter. Having regard to the fact that we are all agreed that the concept of vaccine nationalism is somewhat disturbing, what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I invite Dr. Nabarro to respond to the remaining questions, with particular reference to Senator Joe O'Reilly's question on the Russian vaccine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Dr. Nabarro. While as politicians, the likelihood is that we will seek to prioritise our constituents, we know, as has been said here this morning and repeatedly over the last weeks and months, that nobody is safe until everybody is safe and that it is not a question of engaging in a type of vaccine nationalism. Unless the EU, US and UN work together to ensure that everybody is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: Before I go back to the panel, I want to ask about the immediate way forward. In the past we have seen, for example, UN-convened and sponsored pledging conferences where money has been raised on the international stage. My understanding is that up to approximately $40 billion will be required to secure in excess of 2 billion vaccines. Is there optimism, for example, or any signs coming from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Distribution of Covid-19 Vaccines to Developing Countries: Discussion (9 Feb 2021)

Charles Flanagan: I thank Dr. McMahon. Dr. Harkin may wish to make a brief comment.