Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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11. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current status of Ireland considering the TRIPS waiver; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41394/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Universal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines, diagnostics and treatments is crucial in the global fight against COVID-19.

International Trade is a competence of the EU under the Treaties and in exercising that competence, the European Commission engages fully with the Member States, including Ireland, through a variety of Committees and Working Parties/Groups, including on Intellectual Property.

As regards the broad waiver proposed by a number of WTO Members, on 4 June, the EU submitted a proposal to the WTO General Council, which proposed that WTO Members could agree on a global trade initiative for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics encompassing the three components of (i) trade facilitation and disciplines on export restrictions; (ii) concrete actions to expand production and ensure supply of vaccines at affordable prices to low and middle income countries during the pandemic and (iii) clarification and facilitation of TRIPS Agreement flexibilities relating to compulsory licences.

The EU has also submitted a Declaration to the TRIPS Council to assist the next phase of discussions with a view to trying to reach agreement with all Members of the WTO on how to achieve the shared goal of expanding production and facilitating equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics for all.

The EU continues to be committed to an open and comprehensive dialogue with all WTO members to explore how the multilateral rules-based trading system can best support universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and to continue ramping up production, to share COVID-19 vaccines and medicines more widely and faster and to ensure equitable access to these products for low and middle-income countries.

The EU considers that the COVAX Facility, the international initiative to ensure global access to COVID vaccines, is the mechanism that is best placed to ensure that high-income countries finance the vaccines and support the developing countries to secure their share of global supply.

Ireland has consistently championed collaborative responses to the pandemic, with a focus on ensuring that the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable are served by our collective effort. As a member of the global health community, Ireland continues to play an active role in ensuring fair and equitable access to vaccines for all. This includes supporting the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund, to develop, produce and equitably distribute effective technologies in the COVID-19 global response.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when in the Roadmap for Reopening the Economy and Society it is expected further details will be provided on arrangements for trade fairs and exhibitions. [41419/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the difficulties being experienced by those in the trade fairs and exhibitions industry during the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. I know that many employers, employees and the self-employed in this sector want to get back to work as quickly and safely as possible; and I support them in that ambition.

This matter raised by the Deputy is, in the first instance, a matter for the Department of An Taoiseach, but my Department is engaging with that Department across a range of business related areas on the Roadmap for Reopening. When any changes are made to the current restrictions by Government, they will be publicly announced, and the most up to date public health advice may be monitored on the gov.ie website.

Representatives of the trade fair and events industry have had engagement with my colleague, Minister of State Troy, on how trade fairs and exhibitions could progress to a reopening scenario. My Department is in consultation with the Department of An Taoiseach, and there will be consideration by the Government in the context of the further lifting of restrictions into the future, as we seek to balance public health, economic and social aspects of living with COVID-19 to try to bring some greater certainty to those still impacted by the pandemic.

As the Deputy is aware, the Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), Small business assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates.

The level of business supports is unprecedented, and I would urge businesses to ensure that they are aware of what is available to them and apply for the appropriate schemes.

IN addition to the supports outlined above, the Government has worked to ensure that there is a range of assistance in place for COVID-19-impacted businesses including the COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, the Brexit Loan Scheme, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Future Growth Loan Scheme.

A new Events Sector Covid Support Scheme (ESCSS) is a once-off scheme with a funding allocation of €11.5 million to support the events sector. Details are available from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media and at the gov.ie website.

In addition, on the 1st of June 2021 the Government announced the Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) for vulnerable but viable businesses in sectors that were significantly impacted throughout the pandemic, even during periods when restrictions are eased. The BRSS will be administered by Revenue, with further details expected to be announced in September 2021.Full details of the wide range of current COVID-19 schemes for businesses are available on the Department’s website at enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Supports-for-SMEs/COVID-19-supports/.

While I understand the difficulties businesses have faced, and recognise the sacrifices that have been made, it is encouraging that the country is now in a much more hopeful position.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he will take through the European Commission and European Council to support the aims of an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39074/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Universal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines, diagnostics and treatments is crucial in the global fight against COVID-19.

International Trade is a competence of the EU under the Treaties and in exercising that competence, the European Commission engages fully with the Member States, including Ireland, through a variety of Committees and Working Parties/Groups, including on Intellectual Property.

As regards the broad waiver proposed by a number of WTO Members, on 4 June, the EU submitted a proposal to the WTO General Council, which proposed that WTO Members could agree on a global trade initiative for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics encompassing the three components of (i) trade facilitation and disciplines on export restrictions; (ii) concrete actions to expand production and ensure supply of vaccines at affordable prices to low and middle income countries during the pandemic and (iii) clarification and facilitation of TRIPS Agreement flexibilities relating to compulsory licences.

The EU has also submitted a Declaration to the TRIPS Council to assist the next phase of discussions with a view to trying to reach agreement with all Members of the WTO on how to achieve the shared goal of expanding production and facilitating equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics for all.

The EU continues to be committed to an open and comprehensive dialogue with all WTO members to explore how the multilateral rules-based trading system can best support universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and to continue ramping up production, to share COVID-19 vaccines and medicines more widely and faster and to ensure equitable access to these products for low and middle-income countries.

The EU considers that the COVAX Facility, the international initiative to ensure global access to COVID vaccines, is the mechanism that is best placed to ensure that high-income countries finance the vaccines and support the developing countries to secure their share of global supply.

Ireland has consistently championed collaborative responses to the pandemic, with a focus on ensuring that the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable are served by our collective effort. As a member of the global health community, Ireland continues to play an active role in ensuring fair and equitable access to vaccines for all. This includes supporting the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund, to develop, produce and equitably distribute effective technologies in the COVID-19 global response.