Written answers

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Proposed Legislation

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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637. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the Copyright Bill; when she expects it will be published; if she will consider extending a college's (details supplied) current statutory copyright library status to include accessible digital formats, which would make for greater accessibility for blind and visually impaired persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24191/17]

Photo of Mary Mitchell O'ConnorMary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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In July 2016, Government approved a General Scheme of a Bill entitled the Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) (Miscellaneous Intellectual Property) Bill. The Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.  When drafting of the Bill is finalised, my intention is to seek Government approval to publish the Bill.

The Bill proposes a modest amendment to allow copyright deposit institutions in Ireland to accept publications in electronic format. The current legal requirement is that every book published in the State must have a hard copy deposited with each of the legal deposit institutions, including the college referred to by the Deputy.  This amendment would not, however, extend to a requirement for electronic deposit in a format accessible for persons with a visual impairment, as this is a separate policy matter outside my area of policy responsibility.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that it is intended in the Copyright Bill to include separate provisions to improve access for persons with a disability to published works. This would involve allowing designated authorised bodies in the State to make suitably modified copies of works and to distribute these to persons with a disability. These provisions will prepare the way for adoption of the Marrakesh Treaty, an international Treaty aimed at ensuring greater availability of books in accessible format for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled.

I am confident that the improvements contained in the Copyright Bill, when in place, will bring about a significant improvement generally in the position of persons with a visual impairment in terms of accessing a broader range of works.

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