Fianna Fáil Senator in Wexford and Spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Malcolm Byrne, has called on the Government to confirm that a referendum on Ireland's membership of the Unitary Patent Court will be held in tandem with the 2024 Local and European Elections next June.
It was recently announced that Government will hold two referendums on family and care on 8th March 2024.
Senator Byrne said: "A date has now been confirmed for two referendums on family and care next year, however, there has still been no date confirmed for our membership of the Unitary Patent Court.
“I am once again calling for a date for this referendum to be announced. Holding it at the time as the Local and European Elections next year makes sense as the necessary apparatus and facilities will already be in place to facilitate it.
“Intellectual property has an ever-growing importance in our economy and with this in mind Government needs to set out the case for Ireland's membership of the unitary patent system and for our membership of the Court. This system is a cost-effective way to protect patents and intellectual property across the European Union.
“Because it is an international court and involves the transfer of jurisdiction, we need to amend our Constitution to provide for membership."
Ireland is a signatory to the agreement for this system but has not yet ratified membership. The Court has commenced its work and 17 of the 27 EU Member States have already signed up.
-ENDS-