asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement on the views recently expressed by the Irish Videogram Association (details supplied) on video piracy, and their statement that £14 million of revenue is being lost to the State annually to these pirates where sales now total some 50 per cent of the total legitimate market.
Written Answers. - Video Piracy.
55.
I share the concerns expressed by the Irish Videogram Association about the adverse economic effects of video piracy and, at my request, the Government have recently authorised the restoration of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 1984, to the Dáil Order Paper. This Bill, inter alia, makes provision for substantial increased penalties, including terms of imprisonment, for breaches of copyright and is specifically designed to stamp out importation of and dealing in pirated video material. The Bill also strengthens the search and seizure provisions which can be applied in relation to illicitly copied material.