Batt O'Keeffe
Question:25 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the action, if any, he proposes to take to deal with the unreasonable demands being made by the IMRO on businesses and clubs in this country. [4228/95]
Written Answers. - Copyright Reform.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department is currently involved in a comprehensive review of copyright and related issues.
There has been consultation with a large number of interested parties in both written and oral forms to identify problems and possible solutions.
The level of charges imposed by licensing bodies for music use has been identified during the course of the review as a major problem for music users such as the vintners, disco owners, small shop owners etc.
My Department is actively examining both sides of this issue with a view to finding a balanced solution between the legitimate rights of copyright owners and the needs of users.
I would hope to be in a position to bring forward proposals on this particular problem and more generally on the whole area of copyright reform in the none too distant future.
In the meantime my Department has provided mediation in an effort to have a voluntary settlement of disputes in this area, and is prepared to do so again.