Pat Cox
Question:30 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the proposals, if any, he has to dispense with a register of trade mark agents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Trade Mark Law.
Peadar Clohessy
Question:62 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the progress that has been made by his Department in relation to the implementation of Trade Mark Law and the Madrid Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 62 together.
My Department had detailed consultations with the Association of Patent and Trademark Agents in November last year on the basis of the Private Members' Bill introduced by Deputy McDowell earlier that year. This was followed up by a detailed written submission from them in late November. IBEC responded to my Department's request for comments with a written submission in early January this year. I hope that, in the light of this work, a Government Bill can be introduced this session.
I am conscious that the legislation is overdue and for this reason I have made it the priority of the Intellectual Property Unit which I established in my Department last October. I would again like to put on record my gratitude to Deputy McDowell for the Private Members' Bill he introduced on this subject. It is a valuable input to the Department's work.
Among the issues raised by my Department in its consultations with the Association of Patent and Trademark Agents was the question of whether there was a continued need for a register of trade mark agents. I have taken no decision in respect of this. It is among the issues addressed in the association's written submissions and I will take what they have said into account.