Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his position regarding the Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement; if he will be instructing MEPs from Government parties to support the matter when it comes before them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37408/12]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is an international trade agreement that aims to help countries work together to tackle more effectively large-scale Intellectual Property Rights violations by clamping down on counterfeiting and piracy. It aims to strike a fair balance between the interests of the parties concerned, including citizens, consumers, civil society and business; and to guarantee all safeguards and exemptions provided by existing or European norms, such as fundamental rights, privacy and freedom of speech.

The Agreement was signed by the EU and 21 of its member states (including Ireland) on the 26 January 2012. However, the European Union and its Member States cannot ratify the Agreement without the consent of the European Parliament. The European Parliament has already held a vote on ACTA in its plenary session on the 4July 2012, where parliament voted to reject the Agreement.