Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 4

Written Answers. - Biotechnological Innovations.

John Bruton

Ceist:

103 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the Government's approach to reformation of the law to make it supportive of responsible research, development and commercialisation of biotechnological innovations in Ireland; or if she has satisfied herself that the existing legal frameworks are adequate. [4182/98]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

BioResearch Ireland established in 1988, under the then Government's National Biotechnology Programme, has a major role in the development and commercialisation or biotechnology inventions. Its five university based research centres perform contract research and product development to industrial clients.

Currently, biotechnological inventions can be protected in Ireland under either the Patents Act, 1992, or the regional law of the European Patent Convention (EPC). A proposal for an EU Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions, which seeks to secure harmony between existing national laws and the EPC, and uniform interpretation in the courts, was approved by the European Parliament at its first reading in July last. The proposed Directive was also adopted by the Internal Market Council on 21 November, 1997. The Government supports the EU efforts towards putting in place a uniform legal framework applicable throughout the Single Market.