Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In contrast, perhaps, to the great generosity shown by some during Covid, as we heard from the previous speaker, the European Union had a poor moment during the Covid pandemic when it acted as a major blocker of a TRIPS waiver. Such a waiver on intellectual property and rules would have allowed sharing and access to vaccines for the global south and the widespread saving of lives. It was unfortunate that the profits of very few companies were prioritised over a threat common to all of humanity and the supporting of all humanity. We now have the figures. We were told this would all go back into research while we know public research funded much of the development of these vaccines. The People's Vaccines Alliance told us that the major firms spent €370 billion on shareholder and executive payouts. That is almost as much as they spent on research and development during that period.

We now have the chance to learn and do better. A new pandemic treaty is being negotiated. The goal is the prevention of pandemics, preparedness for their emergence and the response when they emerge. Unfortunately, the EU, Canada, the United States, Switzerland and Germany, in particular, which I must call out, are blocking real progress on that pandemic treaty. The People's Vaccines Alliance has put on the table a very modest proposal that 20% of medical countermeasures be donated to the World Health Organization. This would mean that one fifth of what might be produced would be made available to the four fifths of the world that are poorer. Even that has been blocked and opposed. There is now a danger that there may not be progress in the treaty, entirely due to global north countries blocking it. We have to learn and do better.

I acknowledge that this House passed a motion calling for a TRIPS waiver and sought justice on that issue.I hope we can maybe look to how this House can progress things further again.