Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has affirmed “Ireland’s commitment” to the creation of a WHO Pandemic Treaty.
The proposed international treaty would involve coordinating World Health Organisation member states’ responses to any potential future pandemics similar to Covid-19.
Discussing the idea in Dublin today, along with WHO officials such as Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Dr. Mike Ryan and others, Minister Donnelly said that Ireland was a “strong supporter of the WHO leadership” in global health matters.
“During the pandemic the WHO played a key role in supporting countries to understand, withstand and eventually overcome the impact of COVID-19 on our healthcare systems, which is why securing an international treaty to manage future pandemics is essential,” he said.
“We know the world is watching, the stakes are high, and time is of the essence. It is important to note that this is also a generational opportunity, one which Ireland recognises we must not miss.”
He added that Ireland would be increasing its WHO contributions annually by millions of euros.
“I’m pleased to have secured increased funding in the 2024 Health Budget for Ireland’s assessed contributions to the WHO,” he said.
“It will rise from €1.5 million in 2023 to the target level of €3.7 million from 2024, well ahead of the 2029 deadline.”
Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Breda Smyth, also welcomed the proposed Treaty.
“Ireland welcomes the continued collaboration and support provided by the WHO in advancing the negotiations of the Working Group on amendments to the International Health Regulations and the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for a Pandemic Agreement,” she said.
“The International Negotiating Body has been charged with a challenging but historic task.”
In September of 2021, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus indicated that such a Pandemic Treaty would carry with it “incentives” to follow the treaty’s rules, including potential international sanctions.
As reported by Politico, Ghebreyesus said that the treaty would “have all the incentives, or the carrots” to encourage the enforcement of the rules, including around issues like transparency into pandemic investigations.
“But maybe exploring the sanctions may be important,” he added.
The proposal has caused some to warn about a potential threat to national sovereignty, however.
Earlier this year Conservative MPs in Britain wrote to UK government ministers warning that such a Treaty could have “powers of compulsion” for lockdowns and more.
The MPs, led by former Cabinet minister Esther McVey, said that the Treaty would represent a dramatic change from an advisory body, to an authority with powers of compulsion, according to the Telegraph.
“There is, rightly, growing concern about the WHO’s Pandemic Treaty and International Health Regulations,” McVey said.
“The plans represent a significant shift for the organisation, from a member-led advisory body to a health authority with powers of compulsion. This is particularly worrying when you consider the WHO’s poor track record on providing consistent, clear and scientifically sound advice for managing international disease outbreaks.”
Another MP signatory, Danny Kruger, went on to warn that “ceding control over health budgets and critical decision-making in a pandemic to an unelected international organisation seems profoundly at odds with national autonomy and democratic accountability.”
However, advocates of the Treaty simply argue that it will allow countries to coordinate more effective and synchronised public health responses to prevent the spread of dangerous illnesses and save lives.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said last year that “Ireland strongly supports a multilateral approach to global health issues with the WHO in a central leadership role.”
“Therefore,” the Minister said, “Ireland supports the WHO led process to negotiate a binding legal instrument on pandemic preparedness and response.”
When asked by Independent TD Mattie McGrath last year if the government intended to hold a referendum on the Treaty, Donnelly refused to commit to such a vote.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has refused to commit to a referendum on the controversial WHO Pandemic Treaty.#gripthttps://t.co/0VJwjhFaCY
— gript (@griptmedia) May 6, 2022