Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the discussions he has had at an EU level regarding proposals for a copyright term extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10065/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In 2008 the European Commission put forward a proposal to amend the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the term of protection of copyright and related rights (2006/116/EC). Following first reading and examination in the European Parliament, a revised proposal was agreed in the Parliament in 2009. This proposal was then discussed by the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Brussels but there was not a sufficient majority amongst Member States to allow it to proceed to European Council level.

In March of this year we received notification that Denmark, who had previously had a reserved position on the proposal, had carried out national consultations and was now ready to consider the European Parliament's first reading as an acceptable compromise. Accordingly, the Danish Government have now invited the Hungarian Presidency to consider the proposal to amend the Directive concerned as an item on the agenda for the Council.