President Michael D Higgins has called for global solidarity to ensure that vaccines are distributed to all.
In a speech to mark International Workers' Day, the President praised efforts in Irish communities to assist one another, and the role of the State in seeking to protect all members of society.
However, he warned that in a most important respect, solidarity at global level has been tested, adding that "we have been found wanting".
"Solidarity, in an inter-dependent world, must mean when it comes to global challenges such as pandemics, climate change, sustainability, standing shoulder to shoulder with those in other countries, especially poorer nations with fewer financial resources, so that, for example, vaccines are made available, accessible and affordable for all," he said.
He said solidarity among nations was key to optimising the world's management and eventual exit from the pandemic.
He also highlighted the potential role of the private sector, noting that traditional markets had acknowledged that they could not deliver at the scale required to cover the entire globe.
"Solidarity within and between countries and the co-operation of the private sector in what are entirely new circumstances is essential if we are to overcome the challenges presented to us by Covid-19 and in particular with regard to accessing appropriate medical treatments," he said.
President Higgins noted that the pandemic had laid bare "many of the dire consequences of both existing economic inequalities and widespread inadequacies in social protection that are a great scar on our humanity".
He referred to calls for a global pandemic needing a global response but cautioned that "our actions must match our words or we lose credibility".
He noted that at present, 34 million fellow global citizens are under the threat of famine, while poverty at a global level is increasing, even in the most developed societies.
He stressed the imperative of "deep" change, and called for a post-pandemic society "based on solidarity, care, compassion kindness and above all equality".
President Higgins noted that this was the second International Workers' Day being marked during the pandemic.
He said May Day gave workers all over the world an opportunity to acknowledge the tireless efforts of workers and trade union activists to improve employees' rights.
The President also said it was time to respect caring as one of the most important forms of work - and praised the efforts of frontline workers during a time of unprecedented crisis.
He said the re-definition of work would incorporate changes in technology, which must be seen as an instrument for sustainable activity, rather than as an "unaccountable determinant of lives and societies".
