The Republic of Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation has announced  that, following consultation with interested parties, Ireland is to retain its current practice of examining the registrability of applied-for trade marks on relative grounds.  According to the Department, 

"The outcome of the consultation process is to retain the status quo. 

The international community is still divided on this matter, with different regimes currently operating in the various National Intellectual Property Offices. Developments in this area will be closely monitored and the need for any appropriate changes will be kept under review. On balance it is considered that retaining the status quo, for trade mark examination in Ireland, is the preferred option at this time. While a move to a ‘search and notify’ system would position the Patents Office alongside OHIM it would mean that, in the face of no response from prior rights holders (for whatever reason), the Office would end up registering marks that fail to perform the fundamental function required in Section 6(1) of the Act. There would not be any guarantee of origin and the integrity of the Register would be compromised".

Information supplied by Niamh Hall (FR Kelly, Dublin).