IMRO insists on school royalties despite widespread criticism

THE Irish Music Rights Organisation remains determined to collect royalties from schools despite widespread criticism. A spokesman said it intended to collect payments from both second level and primary schools.

Teachers and politicians have condemned the move. The National Youth Council of Ireland called on IMRO "to back off in their demands for royalties from schools". The group said "the blatant greed" of the IMRO demand would discourage music in schools. IMRO said it would be happy with a £20 per annum royalties payment.

The organisation said for the past 18 months it had been pressing the Department of Education to agree a collective figure for schools and, when that had failed, it had sent letters to the State's 3,200 primary schools.

The organisation will begin to press second level schools to pay for the use of copyright music "later on", said Mr Brian Power, IMRO field sales manager.

Mr Power said the reported £96 per annum fee was a general purpose tariff used when no other agreement had been agreed. The fee fell to £66 for the second year. This tariff would not be used if agreement was reached.

The use of music by schools had been ignored so far because the Performing Rights Society in London collected royalties until January 1995. Since the establishment of the Dublin based IMRO we have tightened up our affairs".

Fianna Fail's education spokesman, Mr Micheal Martin, has called for the Minister for Enterprise and Employment to change the 1963 Copyright Act to exempt school performances.

The general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, Senator Joe O'Toole, said IMRO had a legal right to seek a licence fee from schools, but said it was not right for it to pursue it. Garda focuses on victims of crime

Victims of crime can expect a more sympathetic hearing from gardai. Moves to make the force more appreciative of the trauma experienced by victims of crime were initiated at the Garda Training College, Templemore, yesterday.

A Victim Trauma Awareness Programme was jointly launched at the college by Mrs Jennifer Guinness, chairwoman of the Irish Association for Victim Support, and Chief Supt Eamon Keating, academic coordinator at the college.

The purpose is to increase awareness of student gardai to the stress and trauma suffered by victims of crime. Personnel from the IAVS will assist in the implementation of the programme.