Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne has reiterated his call for a referendum to be held this year to allow Ireland join the European Unified Patent Court system. He was speaking ahead of a visit here tomorrow (Tuesday) by Kai Härmand of the Court.
Deputy Byrne emphasised the significant benefits of Ireland’s participation in the system, particularly for Irish inventors, entrepreneurs, and businesses seeking patent protection across Europe.
He said, "Membership of the Court will make it easier for Irish inventors and creators to have their products and ideas recognised and protected across Europe. It will streamline the process, making it both more efficient and cost-effective for them.''
Ireland remains one of the few EU countries not yet fully integrated into the Unified Patent Court framework. Deputy Byrne stressed the need for a public information campaign to inform citizens about the advantages of joining, ensuring the country is ready for a referendum later this year.
He suggested that the vote could be held alongside the Presidential election or as a standalone referendum.
The government postponed a planned referendum last year on membership which would ask citizens to approve the insertion of a new subsection 11 in section 4 of Article 29 of the Constitution, allowing the transfer of jurisdiction in patent litigation from the Irish courts to an international court.
Deputy Byrne concluded by urging the government to set a clear timeline for the referendum and to ensure that Ireland does not fall behind its European counterparts in providing a modern and effective patent protection system.
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