Vol. 489 No. 2
15 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to provide support to IMRO in its action against the United States of America over non-compliance of artists' royalty collections and returns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7684/98]
I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. I can inform him that IMRO submitted a formal complaint to the European Commission, with the unanimous support of its European counterparts in the representative body GESAC pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 3286/94 concerning certain trade obstacles. The case relates specifically to the administration and licensing of the performing right in music in the United States of America. The IMRO case was presented to a meeting of the Commission Trade Barriers Committee, a committee established under the terms of the trade barriers regulation to facilitate representative organisations in member states of the EU to bring forward cases which identify barriers to trade outside the EU. Ireland, which was formally represented at that meeting, fully supported the adoption and pursuit of the IMRO case.
The European Commission subsequently decided to pursue this matter directly with the US authorities and will, it is understood, pursue this matter through a WTO panel if necessary. Ireland concurs with the action being taken by the Commission.
As the European Commission is now actively pursuing IMRO's complaint with the US, the provision of support by my Department does not arise. I can, however, assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to monitor progress in this matter.
