The Irish division of the multinational music company EMI has begun an action against the Irish State that it hopes will stem the illegal downloading of music there.

This week the company launched an action in the Irish Hight Court that it hopes will make the State impose strong anti-piracy measures on internet service providers (ISPs).

A provision in the new action would stop ISPs from allowing access to so-called pirate music sites, which they say would also align Irish law with EU requirements.

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Meanwhile, the Irish Government has reportedly pledged to issue an order that would allow copyright holders such as EMI to compel internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to websites they consider are engaged in piracy.

According to a report in the Evening Herald this week, EMI Records (Ireland) is unhappy with the Irish government's rate of progress on this issue.

EMI Ireland Chief executive Willie Kavanagh told the Herald that the EU requirements should provide companies with the right to seek court injunctions against ISPs that allow access to music piracy websites.

Last week, EMI’s Irish division reported that its profits almost halved in its 2011 financial year, and it attributed this fall mainly to piracy.