Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

152. To ask the Minister for Health the Government’s position on the ongoing pandemic treaty negotiations; if he will ensure that Ireland advocates for an equitable distribution of life-saving medicine across the world; his views on the fact that the current international healthcare architecture is broken and puts the lives of the poor at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61238/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the WHO in a central leadership role. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global status quo in terms of pandemic preparedness and response is not acceptable and needs revision.

An Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established by WHO to manage the negotiations; its December meeting will see discussion of a conceptual zero draft of the Pandemic Agreement. A progress report on the negotiations is expected to be delivered to the 76th World Health Assembly in 2023, with the aim of adopting the agreement by 2024.

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. It should be noted that while certain health matters are within the competency of EU Member States, other health matters are within the competency of the EU itself. Officials in my Department, working with Ireland's Permanent Representation to the UN in Geneva, are engaging and will continue to engage with other Government Departments, the EU negotiator, and the INB bureau in this process.

The Group of Friends of the Treaty strongly supports an agreement that would foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics.

The Pandemic Agreement needs to include human rights, disability and gender-responsive equity as a core and underlying principle which informs the whole agreement. This also includes marginalised people in low-income settings, people living in crisis contexts, refugees and internally displaced people; by putting the furthest behind first, we can ensure equitable access to medical and non-medical measures for all.

To achieve this, investment will be needed in public health infrastructure globally, at all levels but with a particular focus on primary healthcare, and to include meaningful community engagement.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

153. To ask the Minister for Health his position on the Berlin declaration setting out the biopharmaceutical industry vision for equitable access in pandemics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61260/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Berlin Declaration is a statement issued by the innovative biopharmaceutical industry calling on the G7, the G20 and all stakeholders in the global health community to play their part, to ensure that people in all countries have more equitable access to future pandemic vaccines, treatments and diagnostics no matter where they live.

In principle, the commitment by industry to work with governments and all stakeholders to help ensure that preparedness and response systems are put in place and maintained into the future is welcome; the mechanisms to underpin this however will warrant careful, considered analysis and review as the principle is operationalised.

The Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe is premised essentially on ensuring access to safe, affordable, effective medicines for all European patients. The importance of assuring a regulatory environment that fosters and supports innovation and sustainability, underpinned by an ethos of trust, predictability and collaboration is recognised from a European, as well as a global perspective. Timely patient access to safe effective medicines supports the common good.

The EU is a leading proponent of the Pandemic Agreement and Ireland, along with a majority of EU Member States, is part of the Group of Friends of the Treaty. The Group of Friends strongly supports an agreement that would foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics. The Pandemic Agreement needs to include human rights and disability and gender-responsive equity as a core and underlying principle which informs the whole agreement. This also includes marginalised people in low income settings, people living in crisis contexts, refugees and internally displaced people and, by putting the furthest behind first, ensure equitable access to medical and non-medical measures for all.

In a pandemic no one is safe until everyone is safe’ and the recognition of this tenet is important as we reflect and learn from the lesson of the Covid pandemic.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

154. To ask the Minister for Health if he will meet with civil society organisations (details supplied) regarding an international pandemic treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61261/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the WHO in a central leadership role. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global status quo in terms of pandemic preparedness and response is not acceptable.

An Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established by WHO to manage the process to negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response; its December meeting will see discussion of a conceptual zero draft of the Pandemic Agreement. A progress report on the negotiations is expected to be delivered to the 76th World Health Assembly in 2023, with the aim of adopting the agreement by 2024.

Ireland supports this WHO-led process to negotiate a binding legal instrument on pandemic preparedness and response. The aim of such a Pandemic Agreement is to protect public health and to help save lives in the event of future pandemics.

The EU is also 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. It should be noted that while certain health matters are within the competency of EU Member States, other health matters are within the competency of the EU itself. Officials in my Department, working with Ireland's Permanent Representation to the UN in Geneva, are engaging and will continue to engage with other Government Departments, the EU negotiator, and the INB bureau in this process.

The Group of Friends of the Treaty strongly supports an agreement that would foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics.

As part of the negotiating process the INB has held a number of its meetings in public; Ireland strongly supports this action and welcomes the participation of civil society organisations in this process. Accordingly, I have instructed officials in my Department working on this agreement to respond positively to approaches from the organisations the Deputy mentions and arrange to meet in the new year.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

155. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with the European Union and the World Health Organization with regard to an international pandemic treaty; the role Ireland will play in the negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61262/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ireland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the WHO in a central leadership role. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the global status quo in terms of pandemic preparedness and response is not acceptable.

On 1 December 2021, the members of the World Health Organisation reached consensus to begin the process to negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Ireland supports the WHO-led process to negotiate a binding legal instrument on pandemic preparedness and response. The aim of such a Pandemic Agreement is to protect public health and to help save lives in the event of future pandemics.

An Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established by WHO and has met three times in 2022. The third INB meeting, which is currently being held, is discussing a conceptual zero draft of the Pandemic Agreement. Ireland has been participating in the INB process along with EU partners and is also, along with a majority of EU Member States, part of the Group of Friends of the Treaty. It should be noted that while certain health matters are within the competency of EU Member States, other health matters are within the competency of the EU itself. The Group of Friends of the Treaty strongly supports an agreement that would foster an all-of-government and all-of-society approach, strengthening national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics.

Ireland will be advocating for an ambitious, fair and implementable agreement to protect public health through better pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Officials in my Department, working with Ireland's Permanent Representation to the UN in Geneva, are engaging, and will continue to engage, with the Group of Friends, other Government Departments, the EU negotiator, other EU Member States, and the INB bureau in this process.