Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 6

Written Answers. - Copyright Infringement.

Batt O'Keeffe

Question:

189 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on whether legislative loopholes which allow criminals to avoid prosecution for copyright infringement should be closed in view of his statement that the Government is anxious to address this problem. [23841/96]

Batt O'Keeffe

Question:

190 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on whether penalties for conviction under copyright statutes should be increased substantially in order to represent the level of crime and in view of the extent of copyright infringement, which was £18 million at last tally, and the fact that some copyright infringers have ties to organised crime. [23842/96]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister of State with responsibility for commerce, science and technology and my Department are currently preparing draft legislation which will involve a comprehensive updating of Irish copyright law designed to ensure that a modern copyright regime, appropriate to the conditions of the technological society, is put in place. The inclusion of an effective system of remedies and penalties sufficient to provide a strong disincentive to any person contemplating an infringement of copyright protection will be given appropriate consideration in the context of the draft legislation.