Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on consultation with stakeholders in respect of copyright law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33828/12]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I assume the consultation to which the Deputy refers is part of the current review of copyright legislation. An independent Copyright Review Committee was established on 9 May, 2011 to examine the existing Irish copyright and legislative framework to identify any areas that might be deemed to create barriers to innovation and to make recommendations to resolve any problems identified.

The Review Committee conducted an initial consultation during the summer of 2011 and received in the region of 100 submissions from a broad spectrum of interested parties. The Review Committee published a comprehensive discussion document on 29 February, 2012 which examined the current Copyright legislative framework and sets out the issues and concerns which were expressed in the aforementioned submissions. The Committee identified various options to address these concerns in the light of its Terms of Reference and raised a number of key questions for consideration.

Further submissions were invited from all affected or concerned by the issues raised including information providers and ISPs, innovators, rights-holders, consumers and end-users. The deadline for the receipt of submissions in response to this consultation was 29 June, 2012 (this deadline was extended on two separate occasions i.e. from 13 April and 31 May as a result of a large number of requests for extensions). The Review Committee has received in the region of 170 submissions in response to the consultation. These submissions are being evaluated by the Review Committee and a final Report will be prepared setting out any recommendations for legislative change, including change at EU level, if required. I anticipate that this final Report will be completed before the end of 2012.