Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I warmly congratulate Senators Higgins and Ruane and the other signatories on bringing forward the motion. It is a worthy motion and discussion. I do not think there is any fundamental disagreement on the principles behind it. Rather, it is a question of how these things are achieved. I welcome the motion. No matter what position Members take on it, it is important that it has been brought to the floor of the House. I also welcome my colleague, friend and near neighbour, the Minister of State, Deputy English. I will say in a very non-partisan way that he is a doer. That is an objective fact. If anything that comes out of the discussion tonight can be achieved, he will do it and get after it.

I agree that the statistic cited by Senator Higgins of 5.8% of people living in Africa being fully vaccinated is a very disappointing one. It is a bizarrely low figure. The figure of 27% of healthcare workers is also low. Obviously, all Members are aware of the principle that nobody is safe until everybody is safe, and the risk of variants in that context. There is a problem in eastern Europe as well. Although what we are discussing here is important, there are other issues and variables. There is a problem in several eastern European states where, because of a traditional fear of the state and totalitarianism, there is a reluctance to accept the vaccine. I am aware that in Georgia the figure is 30% acceptance. That is a dominant trend in many countries in eastern Europe.

Vaccine production will be at 12 billion doses by the end of 2021. The EU has exported 1.4 billion doses to 150 countries. It has provided €46 billion in support of poorer countries and given €3.2 billion to the COVAX programme. Ireland has given 3 million vaccines to low-income countries. They have gone to places such as Uganda, Nigeria and Indonesia. Those are important statistics. As I stated, team Europe has mobilised €46 billion in support of partner countries. Obviously, the COVAX programme is very important and we have been a very strong supporter of it. The first 500,000 doses reached Nigeria in November. More than 100,000 went to Indonesia and more than 300,000 to Uganda. Ireland has given €7 million to COVAX. Those are the positives.Where some of the difficulties arise here, and the Minister of State will probably elaborate on this later, is that we operate our trade relationships and trading situation within the EU. The EU is our overall trading negotiator, and we are a part of that. Intellectual property is the domain of the WTO, and there is an interaction there. While that is frustrating for a small country like Ireland, it is the truth.

EU countries are suggesting something less than a total TRIPS waiver. Regarding compulsory licences, the year remains open in respect of discussing with the WTO the licensing system that merits clarification. EU countries want to swiftly grant compulsory licences. A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, 16 December, to discuss bilateral contact between delegations and a possible way forward on this. Some progress might be achieved tomorrow. The EU's stated position is that it wants to continue dialogue with WTO members and explore how the multilateral rules-based trading system can best support universal and equitable access to Covid vaccines. They want to go on negotiating within it.

Senator Higgins is dismissive of some of the arguments but there is a certain logic to them. She did say that even if the TRIPS waiver was introduced worldwide tomorrow morning, it would take up to three months, in her assessment, to get production systems going. There is an argument regarding production and distribution systems. We are all on the same page here. It is how we get the end result. Our amendment to the motion is purely the modus vivendiby which we get the end result, but there is no objection to the principle here.