James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The discussion mirrors much of that on Committee Stage where fundamental concepts were discussed. There are similarities between our amendments where we are all seeking greater information and disclosure on what type of activities qualify and do not qualify. There might be, however, slightly different motivations in the sense that my amendments are trying maximise the window for companies to avail of the schemes while the other Deputies are looking at it from different angles.

It is important to state that it does apply to only small and medium-sized enterprises. The knowledge box parent Bill, as such, is already out there and small and medium-sized enterprises are enabled by this. The State should be encouraging through every measure available the promotion of innovation and creativity. It is the ultimate leveller. Knowledge is power. The means of production, the capital, is intellectual capital. From any perspective, this is a worthwhile, accessible and egalitarian concept. It allows us to enable financial activity and reward in terms of the driver being intellectual capital, as well as somebody’s own knowledge and creativity rather than any other pre-qualifying attributes.

This is the first OECD compliant measure of its kind in the world. Accordingly, I do not agree with the arguments that it is a new double Irish.

The Minister of State suggested my amendment may reveal trade secrets if the reports were to be produced. I do not believe that it is beyond the ingenuity of the Department to write a report in such a way that those sensitive details would not be revealed to the public. It is important and there is precedent in other similar schemes for this to be done to create a knowledge bank over time and that applicants can have greater confidence before they can begin to draw it down.

If we have already concluded that where an application is not novel, not non-obvious and not original, what intellectual property are we actually protecting? This is about unsuccessful applications. I am not sure that the Minister of State’s concern applies.

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