Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

These amendments relate to how various international agreements are referred to in the Bill. Amendments Nos. 1, 4 and 22 relate to the agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation and the insertion of a reference to the agreement being done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994. I accept these amendments.

Amendment No. 2 relates to the references to the European patent convention in the Long Title of the Bill and proposes the insertion of a reference to the convention as "DONE AT MUNICH ON THE 5TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 1973". I propose an amendment to substitute "SIGNED" for "DONE" in order to achieve consistency with the manner in which the European patent convention is defined in the 1992 Act. I am advised by the Parliamentary Counsel that nothing will turn on this legally. I propose to accept the amendment as amended in this regard.

Amendment No. 3 relates to the reference to the patent law treaty in the Long Title of the Bill and proposes the insertion of a reference to the treaty as having been "DONE AT GENEVA ON 1 JUNE 2000". As the patent law treaty was "adopted" at Geneva on 1 June 2000 rather than "done", I have submitted an amendment to substitute "adopted" for "done".

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