Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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383. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with his European colleagues regarding the distribution of a potential Covid-19 vaccine. [38066/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland supports the ongoing cooperation between Member States in response to COVID-19.

Ireland is currently involved in an EU Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of member states to procure a portfolio of suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19.

Both my Department and the HSE have actively engaged in meetings of the Steering Board that is chaired by the Commission which provides the core governance and consultative forum for the EU procurement process.

The arrangements are intended to ensure a coordinated action at the European level to vaccinate the EU population.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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384. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the plan to roll out a Covid-19 vaccine in Ireland. [39969/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to the timely implementation of a COVID-19 immunisation programme, as soon as one or more vaccines in the EU portfolio are approved for use.  In this regard a High-Level Taskforce was established to support and oversee the development and implementation of the programme.

The Taskforce is supporting my Department and the HSE in developing national COVID-19 vaccination strategy and implementation plan which is due to be submitted by Friday, 11 December.   I will then bring the plan to Government for consideration and subject to the outcome of this discussion, it is the intention that the Vaccination Strategy and Implementation Plan will be published.