Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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1520. To ask the Minister for Health if pharmaceutical companies and or agencies contracted to deliver Covid-19 vaccines have been indemnified with respect to penalties arising from non-delivery or late delivery of vaccine consignments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14536/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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.

As part of the exercise, Ireland has already opted into an Advance Purchase Agreement (APA) with AstraZeneca (partnering with Oxford University); Janssen (Johnson & Johnson); BioNTech/Pfizer; CureVac and Moderna.

The content of the Advance Purchase Agreements, including with regard to liability / indemnity, are negotiated with vaccine suppliers by the European Commission and its negotiation team acting on behalf of Member States. Member States may decide to opt in / opt out, but do not have scope to recast the provisions of any APA.