Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made on the development of an International Content Services Centre to make Ireland world leader in managing intellectual property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37394/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, following an open competitive tender process at the end of last year, consultants were selected by my Department to undertake a feasibility study to examine what structures and policies could be developed to make Ireland a world centre for managing and trading in intellectual property (IP). The objectives of the study were: to identify and describe the emerging trends in IP Portfolio Management in corporations globally; and taking account of such global emerging trends, to identify options and models for Ireland to leverage its existing strengths to become an internationally attractive centre for managing and trading in IP, such that this could realise an economic and jobs potential.

The study was overseen by a Steering Group, chaired by my Department, with representatives from Forfás, IDA, Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. The draft final report of the Feasibility Study was submitted to my Department at the end of June 2012 and comments on this draft from the Steering Group have been fed back to the consultants. It is expected that a final report will be submitted soon and in the meantime my Department and its agencies are considering next steps.