Ó Caoláin meets as part of Vaccine Equality Campaign

Sinn Féin reps were highlighting the TRIPs Waiver & the No Profit On Pandemic campaigns

Former Sinn Féin TD and party Health Spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin met with Sinn Féin’s sitting MEP Chris MacManus in Brussels to ramp up the campaign for Global Vaccine equality.

Speaking after the meeting MacManus said he delighted to welcome Mr Ó Caoláin to the parliament. “We were here for serious business though.  A global pandemic requires a global solution. The EU are not doing enough to quell the spread of Covid. Patent protection must be dropped so countries across the globe can access safe and effective vaccines and treatments. Every citizen can put pressure on the Commission by signing the European Citizens’ Initiative at www.NoProfitOnPandemic.Eu.”

The MEP claims that Ireland is now approaching our target signature figure, with less than 1000 more signatures need to meet the initial objective. “So I’m calling on the people of Monaghan and Cavan for one last push,” said MacManus, adding: “Big Pharma should not be profiteering from a Pandemic. Greed is the enemy of progress in terms of global health. With new variants presenting every week, we need to work harder as a global community. We need to see a temporary waiving of Intellectual Property rights (TRIPs Waiver) so developing countries can get a handle on rising COVID numbers. Quite simply, nobody is safe until everybody is safe.”

The Midlands Northwest MEP concluded with a word of thanks for Mr Ó Caoláin, who served as an elected member for Cavan-Monaghan for almost four decades.

“I know Caoimhghín was always been referred to as Monaghan and Cavan’s hardest working TD, but even since his retirement, his contribution to public life has been incredible. From day one of this campaign he has been at the forefront, putting in endless hours to make our society a better place. The people of Monaghan and Cavan should be very proud of him.”