John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Lawless for the amendment and Deputy Quinlivan for supporting it. We had a good discussion on "capturing the web" on Committee Stage. I thank the Deputies for their engagement on the issue. I understand the desire to capture the web for preservation purposes, however, that would be a significant national project and is not simply a matter of amending copyright legislation, as I have discussed. Aside from the technical amendment to the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, there are other issues that must be scrutinised when considering the development of any legislative changes. We spoke about these on Committee Stage and they include matters regarding governance, consideration of public interest and the potential impact on the rights holders. The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, not my Department, has responsibility for policy in that area. The two Departments have been working together on this and will continue to do so. I am sure both Deputies and all in this House will support the necessary due diligence being undertaken as part of the development in this area. I am happy to accept the amendment because I see the proposal as a pragmatic way to advance the project while allowing time for the necessary work to take place.

2 o’clock

I reassure the House that both Departments involved in this matter are actively engaged on the proposal and that the report will be prepared as specified in the amendment.

Regarding the Deputy's question on the European Commission, in September 2016, the European Commission presented a legislative package for the modernisation of the EU copyright rules, which included a proposed directive on copyright in the digital Single Market. I would highlight that the general scheme of the copyright Bill was approved by the Government in July 2016 prior to the publication of the proposed EU copyright directive. The final consolidated text of the directive was published on 17 May and the Bulgarian Presidency received a mandate to commence negotiations with the European Parliament. Ireland's current copyright legislation amendment contained in the Bill will not in any way in conflict with anything contained in the proposed directive. That might answer the Deputy's question.

My Department will make any necessary legislative amendments based on all the discussions we had in committee and the proposals put forward once the directive is finalised and in line with obligations regarding to the transposition of EU directives into national law. The European Parliament plenary session rejected amendments this morning and will debate many of the hundreds of amendments in September. This vote only happened this morning but Irish officials in Dublin and Brussels will continue to work to achieve a good outcome at European level.

See this speech in context