Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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661. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement that has been had with regard to the rescEU stockpile scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34585/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As part of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Commission has developed the rescEU medical stockpile and distribution scheme under the umbrella of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). The stockpile is currently hosted across six Member States: Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Sweden.

To date, Ireland has not submitted any request for assistance under the rescEU mechanism, which is primarily intended as a last line of defence for countries with urgent, short-term supply issues. However, Ireland will continue to monitor requests for assistance made under the UCPM, and will consider donations of medical equipment to other countries where this is feasible.