Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

When will the Bill come into effect? Does it require a signature by the Minister or President? When signed does it then take legal effect? Will Ireland then become part of the new dispensation?

The Minister of State referred in his speech on Second Stage to the EU initiative in this regard, which is setting up separate patents. Does he have any further comments to make or is the situation much the same as it was on Second Stage? Have there been any other developments? The two are not mutually exclusive but are allied to each other. Both will be of benefit to those registering patents in the EU and under the London agreement. I hope I am making myself clear.