Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
865. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the seven EU member states represented on the EU joint negotiation team to negotiate with Covid-19 vaccine suppliers in relation to advance purchase agreements; the name of the seven experts appointed by the relevant member states to the joint negotiation team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5887/21]
View answerIreland is participating in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19.
The Commission is mandated to conclude, on behalf of the Participating Member States, Advance Purchase Agreements (“APA”) with vaccine manufacturers with the objective to procure vaccines for the purposes of combatting the COVID 19 pandemic at Union level.
The European Commission has set up a steering board for the process which is co-chaired by the European Commission and a Participating Member State with experience in the negotiations and production capacities for vaccines. All Member States are represented at the Steering Committee which discusses and reviews all aspects of the Advanced Purchase Agreement (APA) contracts before signature.
The Committee appoints the members of the Joint Negotiation Team, which negotiates the APAs with the vaccines developers and reports to the Committee.
Representatives of the Member States are required to sign declarations relating to absence of conflict of interest and confidentiality. As such, the countries of origin and members of the Joint Negotiation team cannot be disclosed.
