Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 July 2013
285. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made under the Irish EU Presidency on the digital agenda and specifically, a data protection reform package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36164/13]
View answerPrimary responsibility for making progress on the Digital Agenda under Ireland’s EU Presidency and beyond is a matter for my colleague Minister Pat Rabbitte, T.D. Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
In relation to elements of the digital single market, the following files were progressed during my chairmanship of the Competitiveness Council. On the issue of consumer protection, measures relating to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and online dispute resolution (ODR) were formally adopted and published in the Official Journal during the first six months of 2013. The ADR Directive has to be transposed by Member States by July 2015 and the ODR Regulation will come into force 6 months after that. Both will contribute to increasing consumer confidence in online purchases.
In respect of copyright, the Irish Presidency successfully progressed the Collective Rights Management Directive, a complex and lengthy Directive that is an important step in the modernisation of copyright legislation to ensure that it is fit for purpose in the digital age, to the stage where a mandate to enter into the first informal trilogue with the European Parliament was obtained on 4th July 2013.
Ireland also ensured that focus remained on the broader copyright modernisation agenda by raising issues such as the “licences for Europe” stakeholder dialogue and the recommendations of the “Vittorino Report” on copyright levies for discussion at the Competitiveness Council Meeting of 29th May 2013 .
Primary responsibility for making progress on a data protection reform package is a matter for my colleague, Mr. Alan Shatter, Minister for Justice and Equality.
