asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce in view of the recorded surpluses in the receipts of the Patents Office, whether he proposes to take measures to ensure that applications for registration of patents are dealt with more speedily; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Patents Registration.
37.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I am seriously concerned at the backlog in the examination of patent applications. It is my intention to have the whole examination system critically analysed and following this to implement any changes that would both make for a more efficient system and also help to eliminate speedily the existing back-log. Without prejudice to the outcome of any such critical analysis, I do not accept the inference in the question that the solution to the problem is essentially one of applying the surplus in Patents Office receipts to the provision of greater resources for the office.