Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirleach agus an Ceannaire Gníomheach. I am delighted to see Senator Seery Kearney in the Leader's chair today.

I echo the remarks of my colleague, Senator Dooley, concerning Eir and its disgraceful consumer service. Stronger action is needed against companies such as that for their appalling public service.

The issue I want to raise relates to the Order of Business for this week. We were due to debate the provisions around the unified patent court and the unified patent system tommorrow but I note that has come off the agenda, to be replaced by statements on reducing the cost of business. If a person applying for a patent has to apply in several European countries, that significantly increases the cost to the business, as well as the administrative burden. The Government was wrong to postpone this referendum. It is a matter the Acting Leader and I have spoken about previously. I appreciate that it is only important to and directly impacting on a small sector of Irish society but, for small business, content creators and inventors, it is vitally important. The problem is that a decision was taken in January to proceed with the referendum. I have been critical of the Government in the context of the failure to take action on foot of that decision.

If we believe in anything, we go out and sell those things that we believe in. I can certainly speak on the part of my party, which is a pro-European party and supports small business. A referendum such as this is something that we should have gone out and fought upon. The Government decision to postpone the referendum was wrong. There is a rich irony that the debate that was due to take place tomorrow is being replaced with statements on reducing the costs to business, yet we could have taken an effective step to be able to help a certain sector.