Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2026
71. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will provide a breakdown of trademark applications pending registration for more than six months; the measures, including staff recruitment or IT upgrades, aimed at accelerating throughput; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35589/26]
View answerThe Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI) has advised that as of 11 May 2026, there are 649 trade mark applications pending registration for more than six months.
All of these applications have been subject to initial examination by the Trade Mark Examination Team. Applications remaining outstanding at this stage are either classed as accepted but are subject to further third-party processes, such as oppositions, or remain pending where official objections have been raised by the Office under the relevant provisions of the Trade Marks Act 1996.
Where objections are raised, responsibility rests with the applicant to address those matters before the application may proceed to acceptance or, where appropriate, refusal. This exchange can take a period of time, depending on the nature of the objections and the responses provided, and the IPOI facilitates open and ongoing engagement with applicants during this phase of the process.
Applications remain pending until such time as the objections raised are resolved, waived, or maintained. The Office continues to actively monitor case progression, to engage constructively with applicants and third parties, and to prioritise the timely resolution of cases wherever possible, while ensuring the integrity and robustness of the trade mark registration system.
The examination function within the IPOI is fully resourced and continues to meet required throughput and service standards. The Office is supported by modern ICT systems, which are kept under ongoing review, and it continues to explore appropriate technological enhancements to further improve efficiency and ensure alignment with best practices internationally.
