§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state how many, if any, factories or workshops have been, or are about to be established in Ireland for the working of patents, consequent on the provisions of The Patents and Designs Act, 1907; what steps have been taken by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction to enable Ireland to benefit by the provisions of the Act, and with what result; and whether he is in a position to make a general statement on the subject?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department are not aware that any factories or workshops have so far been established or are about to be established in Ireland for the working of patents consequent on the provisions of the Patents and Designs Act, 1907. The Department in November last sent out a Committee of three gentlemen to Germany to make inquiries in connection with the Act, and their report will be issued in a few days. Any benefit which may accrue to Ireland from this Act must largely depend on the initiative of local bodies, who should take steps to make known in the proper quarters the advantages of their own districts. In several cases this has already been done. For further particulars I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for North Westmeath, on 3rd November last.