Press Release: Wednesday 16 April 2025
Minister for Health welcomes draft WHO agreement on tackling future pandemics
The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has today welcomed the preliminary consensus on the World Health Organisation’s Pandemic Agreement, which was reached early this morning, in Geneva, by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body.
After three years of intensive negotiations, the agreement outlines a framework for improving global collaboration and strengthening capacities for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
‘Ireland, together with the other WHO Member States, has today taken a major step forward in efforts to make the world safer from future pandemics by forging a draft agreement for consideration at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May. I want to pay tribute to all involved in negotiating this agreement. It illustrates the power of working together towards shared goals and demonstrates global commitment to protect us all from future pandemics.”
Interim Chief Medical Officer Professor Mary Horgan said:
“This agreement represents very positive progress in strengthening global pandemic prevention and preparedness and ensures that the world will be equitably united to respond swiftly to any future pandemics”.