Vol. 469 No. 1
592 Mr. N. Treacy asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the reason a report by a company (details supplied) has not been published; if he will ensure that this report is published; if he has satisfied himself that appropriate action has been taken on this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16715/96]
On 13 December 1993, a firm of consultants was engaged to evaluate the appropriateness of the tariffs and tariff categories imposed by the Irish Music Rights Organisation Limited, IMRO, and the Phonographic Performance of Ireland, PPI. It was never intended that the report should be published as it was only one element in assisting the Department on the issue of price control in the area of music copyright tariffs. Following consideration of, inter alia, the report and the advice of the Attorney General, it was decided that copyright legislation should be developed to deal with music copyright tariffs.
The intellectual property unit of the Department is currently involved in the preparation of a very substantial Copyright Bill. It is intended that this new legislation will, inter alia, ensure the appropriate protection of creators of music and other copyright material, while respecting the rights of users of copyright material, and put in place an appeals mechanism which will facilitate owners and users in policing the use of copyright material.
