I propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 153, 154, 155 and 156 together.
The international Agreement on the Unified Patent Court (UPCA), signed in February 2013, entails the establishment of an international court that will, when operational, have exclusive competence for actions for infringement and validity in respect of European patents.
The requisite number of Member States have now ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement and the Protocol on the Provisional Application of the UPC Agreement. Accordingly, the provisional application phase of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) has begun. This will enable various final preparations to be undertaken so that the UPC can become fully operational. It is expected that the UPC will start operations in late 2022 or early 2023.
During the provisional application phase, Ireland moves to an observer status on committees such as the Administrative Committee, and the Budget Committee.
As you are aware, in order for Ireland to ratify the UPC Agreement and the Protocol, a successful constitutional referendum is required to allow for the transfer of jurisdictional powers from the Irish courts to the new international court. The timing for such a referendum is a matter for the Government.