Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 3

Written Answers. - Biotechnology Inventions.

Richard Bruton

Question:

42 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the effect on biotechnology industries in Ireland of the recently approved directive in biotechnology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12074/98]

Austin Deasy

Question:

68 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the effect on biotechnology industries in Ireland of the recently approved directive in biotechnology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12073/98]

Nora Owen

Question:

127 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the effect on biotechnology industries in Ireland of the recently approved directive in biotechnology; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12091/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 68 and 127 together.

The recently approved EU Biotechnology Inventions Directive aims to clarify and harmonise biotechnology patent practice in Europe by establishing clear parameters defining which biotechnological inventions are, and are not, patentable. The directive seeks to encourage more European companies to invest strategically in their patent portfolios thereby creating a more solid basis on which companies employing biotechnology can flourish. Patent protection is fundamental to the growth of R&D based bioindustries. They provide essential protection for new innovative biotech products and processes which in turn encourage entrepreneurship and generate new commercial opportunities as well as jobs. The EU directive will allow Europe compete more favorably with USA and Japan in global markets in the development and exploitation of biotechnology.

I have been informed by Bio Research Ireland, which was established in 1988 as part of Forbairt and has a major role in the development and commercialisation of biotechnology inventions, that the effect of the biotechnology inventions directive on the Irish biotechnology industry will in the short-term be modest. The directive clarifies the scope of patentability of certain biotechnology based inventions and as yet Ireland's biotechnology industry is not a major player in originating new patentable technologies in these areas. However, Irish biotechnology companies which do have such patents or who are working towards developing patent portfolios will benefit from the EU directive in that the directive will result in a significant easing of the administrative burden attaching to the protection of their patents within Europe.