Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that this is a critical issue and I believe it is morally right to ensure that, regardless of where people are in the world, they have access to vaccines. I firmly believe, as does the Government, that no one is safe until everybody is safe. As vaccine production is no longer the issue, the international community is now focused on the need to rapidly build capacity in low-income countries including with regard to healthcare workers, cold chain logistics, infrastructure to properly move and store vaccines and syringe supply, so the demand for vaccines will increase in line with supply and vaccines can be administered on the necessary scale to meet the World Health Organization's 70% vaccination target by mid-2022. On the IP aspects of the trade-related responses to the pandemic, the compromise proposal on the table will facilitate the production of vaccines that are key for regions such as Africa and will allow those regions to create a self-sufficient pharmaceutical production base while preserving the incentives for innovation and investment that are key for responding to new diseases. I will bring the Senator's views and observations back to the Minister.