I move amendment No. 1:
In page 7, subsection (2), line 26, after "fix" to insert "which shall be before the end of March, 1996".
This is a simple amendment requesting that the legislation be in place before 1 April 1996. Otherwise, the 4,000 plus service mark applications filed by the Irish Trade Marks Office during 1993, 1994 and 1995 will be superseded by a community trade mark application dated 1 April 1996. This is not a contentious matter but it is urgent because of the administrative problems to which it could give rise. I have been advised that in order to keep in line with the Madrid Protocol it is important to have everything in order by 1 April. As I understand the Minister runs an efficient office I hope he can overcome the bureaucracy and put this legislation in place by 1 April.