asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if it is intended to introduce a new patents Bill; when Ireland will be in a position to ratify the European Patent Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

A new patents Bill is being drafted as a matter of priority and will be introduced as early as possible. The Bill will, inter alia, enable Ireland to ratify the European Patent Convention. It is proposed to ratify this Convention as soon as possible after enactment of the legislation.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply and wish him success in his new portfolio. However, I want to advise him that the same reply was given to a similar question back in March. Following supplementaries from my colleague, Deputy Bruton, we were informed then that the Bill was with the draftsman's office and would be circulated without any delay. Would the Minister not agree that there are many urgent matters hanging on the introduction of this legislation? Can he give us the exact date as to when we will have this Bill on hands and whether it will be presented to the Dáil before Christmas?

First, let me say that in spite of some other matters which have had to be dealt with since March, considerable progress has been made in relation to the preparation and drafting of this Bill; some of the major aspects of the first draft have already been completed. Regarding a date as to when it will be introduced in the Dáil, a number of other considerations have to go into that so I would not be in a position to give a date today. I can only say that I will give as much priority as possible to the early introduction of the Bill. We are cognisant of the problems which have developed for certain companies by virtue of the fact that we have not been able to ratify the European Patent Convention.