David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1061. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the WHO proposal for an international treaty to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response; if there are plans to engage with INB on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14915/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As I outlined in my address to the World Health Assembly Special Session in November last year, Ireland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the WHO in a central leadership role.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that the global status quo in terms of pandemic preparedness and response is not acceptable. Therefore, Ireland supports the WHO led process to negotiate a binding legal instrument on pandemic preparedness and response.

The EU is a leading proponent of this process and Ireland, along with a majority of EU Member States, is part of the Group of Friends of the Treaty.

Officials in my Department, working with Ireland's Permanent Representation to the UN in Geneva, are engaging and will continue to engage with the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body.