Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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130. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made representations to the Israeli authorities to encourage them to carry out their Covid-19 vaccination programme in a non-discriminatory manner, especially in respect of territory in which the IDF is the occupying power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4811/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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131. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has received representations from the Palestinian authorities in relation to access to the Covid-19 vaccines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4812/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.

Ireland is playing its full part as member of the global health community to establish facilities and oversight mechanisms to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines for all. The World Health Organisation, as the lead UN agency for health, is central to this effort: in recognition of this critical role, Ireland quadrupled support to WHO in 2020.

Ireland is a member of the ACT Accelerator global initiative, which aims to harmonise the global vaccine rollout. A critical pillar of this initiative, COVAX, aims to deliver 2 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of 2021 to support 92 low and middle-income countries, and has negotiated options on a further 1 billion doses. Ireland has budgeted €50 million for Global Health in 2021 including initiatives to support equitable access to vaccines, including through the COVAX initiative.

Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have responsibilities to ensure the welfare of citizens in the occupied Palestinian territory. As I outlined in a statement to the UN Security Council on 26 January, ending the worst effects of the pandemic for all requires constructive cooperation to support timely, effective and unimpeded vaccination in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.

My officials have ongoing contact with the Palestinian Authorities on a range of issues, including the impact of Covid-19. Irish officials continue to monitor this issue and engage together with the EU on supporting vaccination efforts in the occupied Palestinian territory.