Vol. 491 No. 3
85 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals, if any, she has to protect the rights of Irish performing artists in the music industry; if she will introduce requirements to have multinational enterprises set up as publishers here to discontinue to regard Ireland as domestic territory of the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10909/98]
On the first matter raised by the Deputy, the forthcoming Copyright and Related Rights Bill, 1998, which is currently at an advanced stage of preparation in my Department, will comprehensively update copyright law in relation to films, sound recordings, broadcasts and cable programme services, and provide for a comprehensive scheme for protection for performers' rights and rights in performances, in line with international standards of protection in this area of intellectual property rights. This scheme will, of course, include the rights of Irish performing artists in the music industry within its scope.
As to the second matter raised by the Deputy, the framework of European Union law governing copyright and related rights and trade matters in general would effectively preclude any measure aimed at partitioning the Irish market in intellectual products from that of any other country within the European Single Market, including the United Kingdom. Nor, in any case, would such a course seem realistic or desirable in the context of a music industry characterised by increasing integration and interdependence not only across the European Union, but across the world as a whole.
