Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1551. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will report on his recent engagement with his EU counterparts; if the EU Covid-19 vaccine distribution system was discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14627/21]
View answerOn 1 March I met with my EU counterparts to discuss the impact of variants on Member States, national testing strategies, and the need for information sharing on the national rollout of COVID-19 vaccination plans. The EU health ministers were joined on the videoconference by representatives from the European Commission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
It is imperative that the companies deliver on the commitments made to facilitate the much-anticipated significant increase in supply throughout this quarter.
Ireland is taking part in a Procurement Exercise being operated by the European Commission (EC) on behalf of Member States to procure suitable, safe and effective vaccines, in sufficient quantities, to combat COVID-19. Ireland has signalled its solidarity with the EU approach and has, through its participation, gained access to a broad range of vaccines that it might not otherwise have access to, and at the cost agreed collectively by the EU.
