Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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616. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of plans for Ireland’s membership of the European Unified Patent Court System; when it is expected a referendum on the subject will be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59259/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Agreement on a Unified Patent Court, which establishes the UPC, is an international agreement signed by Ireland and 23 other European Union member states during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2013. At present, 18 EU member states are ratified members of the Unitary Patent system.

Ireland sees many benefits in joining the Unitary Patent system including increased competitiveness, cost benefits to Irish innovators and support for native research & development and SMEs in a rapidly evolving global economy. Furthermore, should Ireland ratify the Agreement, Government has committed to establishing a local division of the Unified Patent Court in Ireland, facilitating the enforcement of unitary patent rights in this country.

While Government has reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to participating in the UPC system, a referendum is required to ratify the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court. A referendum was initially scheduled to be held on 7th June 2024 alongside Local and European Elections; however, this was postponed to facilitate greater public discourse on the matter. The timing of any future referendum remains a matter for Government.