Remarks by Mr John Newham, Representing the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, at the Opening of the 2026 EUIPO Observatory Plenary Meeting
Remarks by Mr John Newham, Representing the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, at the Opening of the 2026 EUIPO Observatory Plenary Meeting
Mr John Newham, Assistant Secretary at Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, delivered opening remarks on the first day of the EUIPO Observatory Plenary Meeting, on 15 September 2026, representing the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The event takes place on 15–16 September 2026 in Alicante, Spain, bringing together representatives of European institutions, national authorities, the private sector, civil society and international organisations. The meeting provides a forum for presenting the Observatory’s work and discussing future intellectual property initiatives.
InfoCons, an active member of the EUIPO Observatory, is represented at the meeting by its President, Mr Sorin Mierlea, supporting the inclusion of consumers’ perspectives in European cooperation on intellectual property protection and the fight against counterfeiting and piracy.
Who is John Newham?
John Newham heads the Innovation and Investment Division at Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, serving as Assistant Secretary. The division’s responsibilities include attracting foreign direct investment, enterprise innovation and intellectual property.
His work involves managing policies and their implementation in cooperation with bodies such as IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the National Standards Authority of Ireland – NSAI, and the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland – IPOI. These responsibilities connect innovation policy with investment and the protection of the results of economic and creative activity.
What is Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment?
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is the Irish government department responsible for policies supporting enterprise development, tourism and employment. Its work aims to strengthen a competitive, resilient and sustainable economy that supports prosperity across all regions of Ireland.
Its priorities include helping businesses start and grow, attracting investment, promoting innovation and creating quality jobs. The department’s Strategy for 2025–2028 also focuses on digitalisation, sustainability, tourism development and stronger relationships with European and international partners. At the EUIPO Observatory meeting, John Newham participates on behalf of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.