Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 4

Written Answers. - International Agreements.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

202 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the international agreements under the auspices of his Department which have not been signed by the State and which it is proposed that the State should sign or become a party to; the international organisation, if any, responsible for the agreement in each case, the date and location where each agreement was adopted or opened for signature; and when it is proposed to sign each agreement or become a party to it. [11373/97]

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

The following schedule sets out the details sought concerning the relevant international agreements under the auspices of my Department.

Agreement	Organisation Responsible.	Date and Place Adopted or open for signature.	When it is proposed to sign.
WIPO Copy right Treaty.	World Intellectual Property Organisation.	20 December, 1996, Geneva.	Following enactment of the new Copyright Bill which is in preparation in the Department it will be possible to decide on signature and ratification.
WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty.	World Intellectual Property Organisation.	20 December, 1996, Geneva.	Following enactment of the new Copyright Bill which is in preparation in the Department it will be possible to decide on signature and ratification.
Trademarks Law Treaty.	World Intellectual Property Organisation.	October, 1996, Geneva.	Possible date of signature is currently under consideration.
Paris Act of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.	World Intellectual Property Organisation.	24 July, 1971 amended on 2 October 1979, Paris.	Following enactment of the new Copyright Bill which is in preparation in the Department.

The above information does not include the 117 Conventions of the International Labour Organisation, dating from 1991, which have not been and, in the case of a great majority of them, are unlikely to be ratified by Ireland. Signature does not arise in the case of ILO conventions. A list of the conventions concerned can be made available, if required, to the Deputy.