This is a Seanad Bill which has been amended by the Dáil. In accordance with Standing Order 118, it is deemed to have passed its First, Second and Third Stages in the Seanad and is placed on the Order Paper for Report Stage. On the question "That the Bill be received for final consideration", the Minister may explain the purpose of the amendments made by the Dáil. This is looked upon as the report of the Dáil amendments to the Seanad. The only matters, therefore, which may be discussed are the amendments made by the Dáil. For Senators' convenience, I have arranged for the printing and circulation of the amendments. I have also circulated the proposed grouping in the House. Senators may speak only once on Report Stage.
Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages
Question proposed: "That the Bill be received for final consideration."
I welcome the opportunity to report to the Seanad on amendments made in the Dáil to the Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016 on Report and Final Stages on 29 March when three amendments were passed to amend the version of the Bill passed by this House. I take the opportunity to outline for Senators the purpose of the three amendments passed by the Dáil.
The first amendment, in the name of Deputy Lawless, inserted a new subsection (5) into section 7 of the Bill. It has the effect of requiring the Revenue Commissioners, within three months of enactment of the Bill, to provide a guidance document for businesses making applications under the knowledge development box, KDB, certification scheme. Applications under the scheme will be made to the Controller of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. It is the controller's intention to provide guidelines for applicants under the new scheme. The controller will work closely with Revenue on the guidelines.
The second amendment passed by the Dáil, also in the name of Deputy Lawless, inserted a new subsection (7) into section 8 of the Bill. It has the effect of requiring the preparation of an annual report, on an anonymous basis, giving an indication as to the reasons applications for KDB certificates did not succeed in the Patents Office. The intention behind the amendment is to facilitate the creation of a database of unsuccessful cases that might be a helpful reference point for future applicants.
The third amendment, proposed by Deputies Boyd Barrett and Bríd Smith, inserted a new subsection (3) into section 18 of the Bill. It relates to the annual report presented by the Controller of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. It provides that the Minister may ask the controller to include in the annual report a breakdown of appropriate categories or sectoral headings in respect of applications made to the office under the scheme. The purpose of the amendment is to provide full information on the categories of industries and businesses that will benefit from the KDB certification scheme or the sectors within which they operate.
Most of the amendments seem very logical and Fianna Fáil is delighted to support the Minister by accepting them as part of the Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016.
Question put:
The Seanad divided: Tá, 24; Níl, 7.
Tá
- Boyhan, Victor.
- Burke, Colm.
- Burke, Paddy.
- Butler, Ray.
- Buttimer, Jerry.
- Byrne, Maria.
- Coffey, Paudie.
- Conway, Martin.
- Craughwell, Gerard P.
- Daly, Paul.
- Davitt, Aidan.
- Feighan, Frank.
- Hopkins, Maura.
- Leyden, Terry.
- Lombard, Tim.
- McFadden, Gabrielle.
- Mulherin, Michelle.
- O'Donnell, Kieran.
- O'Donnell, Marie-Louise.
- O'Mahony, John.
- O'Reilly, Joe.
- O'Sullivan, Ned.
- Reilly, James.
- Richmond, Neale.
Níl
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Devine, Máire.
- Humphreys, Kevin.
- Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
- Norris, David.
- Ó Clochartaigh, Trevor.
- Ruane, Lynn.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Gabrielle McFadden and John O'Mahony; Níl, Senators Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.
Question declared carried.
Question put: "That the Bill do now pass."
The Seanad divided: Tá, 29; Níl, 9.
Tá
- Boyhan, Victor.
- Burke, Colm.
- Burke, Paddy.
- Butler, Ray.
- Buttimer, Jerry.
- Byrne, Maria.
- Coffey, Paudie.
- Conway, Martin.
- Craughwell, Gerard P.
- Daly, Mark.
- Daly, Paul.
- Davitt, Aidan.
- Feighan, Frank.
- Hopkins, Maura.
- Lawless, Billy.
- Leyden, Terry.
- Lombard, Tim.
- McFadden, Gabrielle.
- Mulherin, Michelle.
- Mullen, Rónán.
- O'Donnell, Kieran.
- O'Donnell, Marie-Louise.
- O'Mahony, John.
- O'Reilly, Joe.
- O'Sullivan, Ned.
- Ó Céidigh, Pádraig.
- Reilly, James.
- Richmond, Neale.
- Swanick, Keith.
Níl
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Devine, Máire.
- Humphreys, Kevin.
- Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
- Norris, David.
- Ó Clochartaigh, Trevor.
- Ó Donnghaile, Niall.
- Ruane, Lynn.
- Warfield, Fintan.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Gabrielle McFadden and John O'Mahony; Níl, Senators Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh..
Question declared carried.