Mr. Colm Markey:

Regarding TRIPS waivers, I preface my comments by contextualising my position on this issue. As far as I am concerned, the only way we can solve the pandemic scenario is to deal with it in the context of a complete global response. In that regard, there is nearly a more fundamental need to address the situation in third countries, or developing countries, than in the First World. I voted against a TRIPS waiver. It passed, but it has achieved nothing. It was a symbolic gesture that allowed people to cleanse their hands and then state that they had done their bit and voted for a TRIPS waiver. I do not believe that the TRIPS waiver provided the capacity to roll out the vaccines. It did provide a patent. However, we saw how difficult it was to deliver vaccines, even for the companies that designed the patents. I think the TRIPS waiver is symbolic rubbish, frankly. It is a fairly strong thing to say, but what we must do is invest in capacity in third countries or developing countries. Europe has indicated that it is prepared to do that. It has put 750 million vaccine doses on the table already, plus another 250 million, and this week it has again committed to providing another 200 million doses. That is a real response. Investing in the capacity to deliver vaccines in third countries and developing countries is what we must do. The TRIPS waiver was a grand thing to vote through, but it delivered nothing. It did not deliver any capacity to roll out vaccines on the ground. My frustration with the TRIPS waiver stemmed from everyone voting for it, washing their hands afterwards and then saying our job was done. Our job was not done. We have much more to do in that area and I felt the TRIPS waiver was a distraction and a deflection from what we need to do in this regard.

I have only 11 seconds left. Regarding Mercosur, an agenda exists that is, essentially, transplanting the rainforests from South America to Europe and food production from Europe to South America. If we do not support industries producing food sustainably, we will allow our food to be produced in places where it is less sustainable. Therefore, we must protect sustainable food production and the knowledge and research base that underlies that undertaking in Europe. Mercosur does not allow us to do that.