Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
681. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his intentions regarding the proposed amendments to the international health regulations at the World Health Assembly this year; if the State intends to accept and adopt or oppose amendments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27479/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the 75th World Health Assembly took place last week where decisions were taken on health goals and strategies that will guide our public health work in the future. Included in these decisions were discussions on health emergencies: preparedness and response: Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies under which the International Health Regulations (IHR) were discussed.
The purpose and scope of the IHR is to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade. These Regulations provide inter alia, the basis within International law, for the setting up of reporting structures for the monitoring and reporting of issues relating to infectious diseases (particularly where they may pose an international threat).
I wish to advise the Deputy that it the World Health Assembly approved the establishment of a Working Group on International Health Regulations (WGIHR) who are tasked with discussing targeted amendments to address specific identified issues and challenges, including equity and technological developments and to consider gaps that are critical to supporting effective implementation and compliance with the IHR. It is intended that amendments arising from the work of this Group will be brought to the seventy-seventh World Health Assembly in 2024 with a view to their adoption. I can confirm to the Deputy that Ireland will participate in this process.
Subsequent to the decision to establish the WGIHR, a number of technical amendments were agreed to the IHR namely: Article 59 (Entry into force; period for rejection or reservations), Article 61 (Rejection), Article 62 (Reservations) and Articles 63 (Withdrawal of rejection and reservation). These amendments reduce the period for entry into force of any future amendments to the IHR and will ensure coherence and consistency. I can confirm to the Deputy that Ireland supported these amendments.
