225. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was discussed at the most recent EU Foreign Affairs Council Meeting. [42346/26]

The World Health Organisation has declared the Ebola outbreak  in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assesses the infection risk for people living in the EU/EEA to be very low. As of 3 June 2026, DRC had reported 363 confirmed cases, including 62 deaths. Uganda had reported 15 confirmed cases, including one death.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Health are monitoring the outbreak closely.  We are in contact with Irish citizens and our NGO partners in the region and providing advice and updates.  Our Embassies in Uganda and in Tanzania, which has responsibility for the DRC, are also liaising with local partners and other donors across the affected regions.

While the Ebola outbreak has not yet been discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, it is on the agenda for the next meeting of the Council on 15 June. The EU and Member States are working closely together to coordinate approaches on prevention and preparedness.  On 5 June, the Minister for Health participated in an Informal meeting of the EU Health Ministers Council to discuss the Ebola outbreak.

The EU is coordinating closely with the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The European Commission has allocated €15 million in humanitarian assistance to support the response to the outbreak. It is also supporting the development of vaccines and treatments, including through a €7.4 million contribution agreement with the WHO for a research and development blueprint, aimed at fast-tracking clinical trials.

We commend the leadership demonstrated by the DRC and Uganda in taking the urgent steps needed to seek to contain this outbreak, in line with International Health Regulations principles. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, held discussions on the situation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC, Ms. Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, during her recent visit to Ireland.

So far in 2026, Ireland has provided €3 million for the WHO General Programme of Work. This is used to support the WHO’s health protection function, specifically for the detection of and response to infectious disease outbreaks, including this Ebola one. An additional contribution of €2 million has also been approved for the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies. This Emergency Fund has released €3.3 million to support the government-led operational response in the DRC and in Uganda in relation to infection prevention and control. Ireland has also provided €16 million the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) this year.  The CERF has allocated €8.5million in response to the outbreak so far.