Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 May 2018
107. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the timeframe for holding a referendum on the implementation of the unified patent court; the impact Brexit will have on its implementation; if the agreement will require renegotiation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23051/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe timing of any referendum is a matter for Government and no date has been set for a referendum on Ireland's participation in the international Agreement on a Unified Patent Court, which has yet to come into force. To come into force the Agreement must be ratified by at least 13 contracting Member States, including France, the United Kingdom and Germany. To date 16 contracting Member States, including France and the UK, have ratified the Agreement but the German ratification process is delayed pending the outcome of a constitutional challenge there. While the issue of the UK's continued participation in the UPC post Brexit remains to be determined, the priority is to bring the UPC into force. Any discussion of a renegotiation of the Agreement at this stage is premature.
