Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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420. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans to hold a referendum on Ireland’s membership of the European Unified Patent Court System; the level of current engagement with the court system by Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46789/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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On 16 April 2024, it was agreed to defer the date for the referendum on the Unitary Patent Court Agreement ('UPCA'), to facilitate engagement with the public and ensure awareness of the implications of participating in the Unitary Patent Court ('UPC''). An amendment to the Constitution is required before Ireland can ratify the UPCA, as the Agreement entails a transfer of jurisdiction from the Irish courts to an international court. The timing of the Referendum is a matter for Government to decide.

As regards current engagement with the Court system, officials of my Department attend the meetings of both the Administrative Committee and the Budgetary Committee of the UPC in an observatory capacity. This ensures that Ireland is well informed with the issues arising in the day to day running of the Court.