Kathleen Lynch
Ceist:21 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the proposals, if any, he has for the introduction of copyright legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1585/96]
Written Answers. - Proposed Legislation.
I would draw the Deputy's attention to my reply to Deputy O'Rourke on this subject on the 29 November 1995, as reported in the Dáil and Seanad Debates, volume 459 No. 1, columns 178-180.
As stated in that reply the intellectual property unit of my Department is currently engaged in a comprehensive review of Irish copyright law. The review is taking account of:
I. Our international obligations under the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, producers and Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations;
II. EU legislation on,inter alia, rental and lending, cable and satellite broadcasting and duration of copyright together with proposals for EU legislation on resale rights and private tape levies;
III. Technological developments;
IV. The legitimate interests of both suppliers and users of copyright materials and;
V. The need to ensure that copyright law does not impede legitimate creative activity.
The Department has received a substantial number of comprehensive written submissions from interested parties on many of these subjects and has afforded each party the opportunity to make an oral submission in support of that material. The IPU has recently completed this phase of the review process and has commenced drafting heads of a consolidating piece of legislation in this extremely difficult and technical area.
The Deputy will be aware that copyright involves private property rights and that any piece of legislation that expands the rights of one group will lead to additional demands from and on others. Accordingly, there is a need to ensure that the Bill, when complete, strikes a balance between the interests of rights of owners on the one hand and users on the other, whilst ensuring continued creativity in all spheres of economical life.
I do intend to bring forward this piece of legislation as soon as possible but the Deputy will appreciate that given the difficulties and technical issues involved, the importance of the legal rights provided for and the nature of our international obligations, we must proceed cautiously. The Deputy can be assured that there will be no delay in processing the legislation and that I will make every effort to expedite it.