Dan Boyle (Green Party)

This Bill is a modest one, technical in nature. Its principle is something with which the House seems ready to agree. It offers an opportunity, at Second and subsequent Stages, to discuss necessary changes in the areas of copyright and the library service. I will not dwell on those issues now but it is important to place a marker on them. During the term of the last Seanad, the Government introduced an emergency bill relating to the Joyce letters. Regulations have been also introduced governing the resale of works by visual artists. Following the passage of this Bill, consideration should be given to a consolidation Bill dealing with the entire area of copyright because the approach to date has been too piecemeal.

With regard to the library service, which is the responsibility of my party colleague, Deputy John Gormley, as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, we must recognise that some local authorities have been creative and innovative while others have not. There is a need for a common standard of library service across the country. We must recognise the changing face of libraries, which are no longer just repositories of books, important though that is, but are increasingly access points for electronic media for people who would otherwise have no such access. That requires investment in hardware and software. The library is the only port of call for many people in this country.

I thank the Minister for giving us the opportunity to discuss this issue and look forward to a more detailed debate when we reach Committee and Final Stages of the Bill. I support the legislation before us.