Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Apr 1937

Vol. 66 No. 14

Committee on Finance. - Vote 62—Industrial and Commercial Property Registration Office.

Mr. Lemass

I move:

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £9,469 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1938 chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí na hOifige Clárathachta Maoine Tionnscail agus Tráchtála. (Uimh. 16 de 1927 agus Uimh. 13 de 1929).

That a sum not exceeding £9,469 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1938, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Industrial and Commercial Property Registration Office. (No. 16 of 1927 and No. 13 of 1929).

This Estimate shows very little change from last year. There was an increase in the number of patent applications both from Saorstát Eireann and from foreign sources, and also an increase in the number of trade mark applications both from Saorstát Eireann and from foreign sources. As Deputies are aware, a committee of inquiry into patent design and trade mark law was set up in 1935 and is now nearing the completion of its labours. Subject to what has been done by that committee in relation to this service, nothing of importance arose during the year which is deserving of comment.

Mr. Cosgrave

I see that the receipts for the current year are estimated at £20,000. Would the Minister say what the figure for last year was?

Mr. Lemass

In 1934-35 the receipts were £22,500, and the figure for 1935-36 and 1936-37 was £21,500. These were the receipts from fees.

Mr. Cosgrave

Can the Minister give any idea as to what the profits were?

Mr. Lemass

I do not know to what extent the office fees have been varied, but in fact the number of patent applications have increased from 451 to 642, and trade mark applications from 483 to 531. Unless there has been some variation in the fees as between the two types of applications, the revenue should have gone up.

Mr. Cosgrave

It seems strange that it is down, and that the expenses are up.

Mr. Lemass

The expenses have been increasing.

Vote put and agreed to.