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MEMBERS OF THE public will be casting their votes on three referendums in the coming months, it has been confirmed.
While referendums on expanding the definition of family and women in the home will be held on 8 March, a third referendum will also be held on the same day as the European and local elections in June.
While notably not the most exciting of topics, the third referendum will be held on international patents.
In a nutshell, the referendum on Ireland joining the Unified Patent Court, if passed, means EU Member States can recognise each others’ patents.
Government argues that it will harmonise the registration and recognition of patents throughout the EU with a single court to rule on disputes.
A total of 17 countries across the EU take part in the Unified Patent Court, which opened in June of last year.
Confirming that the proposed date to hold the referendum is June, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise Neale Richmond said he attended the inauguration of the Court in Luxembourg last year, stating that he could see the benefits that the system would bring to Ireland.
“Put simply, this system will allow businesses to avail of a single patent that will take effect across 17 EU member states rather than purchasing a patent in each of these countries. The savings for businesses speak for themselves.
“If a company holds a patent for ten years, the average lifetime, it will cost it less than €4,700. If the company was to buy these patents in these individual countries, it would cost it over €30,000. This is an incredible opportunity for Irish businesses,” said the minister.
In order to solve any disputes that may arise through the patent court, an amendment to Article 29 of the Constitution is needed through a referendum.
Richmond told the Seanad today that the issue is a “really important issue for Irish businesses, Irish inventors, Irish people, and so many people in Ireland and beyond who will benefit from all these new creations and inventions and the business and commerce that will flow”.
Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney brought the proposal to Cabinet this morning to agree a date for the referendum alongside the local and European elections which are due to take place on the first weekend of June.
The Minister also sought approval for the priority drafting of a Bill to give effect to the proposed constitutional amendment.
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It’s not rocket science lads, season ban for anyone hiring undocumented workers. Simples.
@canuckandgo:
Undocumented? Illegal workers
@Just Some Guy: Same thing – but yeah, let’s call a spade a spade. Presumably these boat owners are being prosecuted though? Right?
Pendency at it’s best…
@canuckandgo: but sorry i thought controlling your borders was racist and we were all supposed to feel sorry for US businesses without a supply of illegal immigrants? So it happens in ireland and now it is bad?
how can our fishermen make any money with dutch spanish and huge russian factory ships taking all our fish? we got severly screwed by the Eu.
@gregory: And the solution to that is modern slavery?
I wondered how long it would take for someone to make it their fault.
@Tony Canning: the solution is that our politicians stop giving all our fish for free to foreign countries. We’re losing huge money because our politicians don’t stand up for us. At least Norway told the Eu to take a hike and they’re making huge money as a result.
@gregory: Making excuses is worse than just being an apologist.
@Tony Canning: Address the point. This stealing of our fish is costing this country huge money since we joined the Eu. Our politicians are not representing our National Interest.
@gregory: at least acknowledge that hiring illegals and working them like that is wrong .. I agree with your other points though.
@Suzie Sunshine: how much are the russian and spanish factory ship workers getting paid?
@gregory: I am addressing the point. You’re advocating for slavery and using the big bad EU as an excuse.
@Tony Canning: the big bad eu just facilitated the transfer of irish jobs to romania avg salary €500/mth. post below. the Eu doesnt’t give a damn about Ireland.
@Suzie Sunshine: suzie, true but we cant compete w slave wages on russian spanish factory ship. lets get our fisheries back – it should be a billion dollar industry here and pay fair wages to all. The Norwegian system is an excellent example!
@gregory: pathetically conflating a low wage economy with slavery now….
Irish fishing industry worth 850million a year. Irish fishing industry worth 9billion a year to Eu This is the real problem.
@Sinbad the sailor: 100% and why the hell Irish people don’t protest about this issue is beyond me. Our politicians are useless. Look how many jobs we could have created a major industry like the Norwegians. It is time our politicians were held to account instead of the people lying down like sheep.
@Sinbad the sailor: I heard someone describe fish in Irish waters as European fish as due to migration they may only be passing through Irish waters. Don’t know if that is a fair comment?
@Finn Bowe: if this is true leave them wait till said fish have migrated through Irish waters.
Modern day slave galleys
@Tony Hardwicke: speaking of slave wages….over 200 workers lost their jobs in longford recently at a key supplier of components to the oil and gas industry-Cameron who was based in ireland for nearly 40 years . the workshop workers in ireland were getting around €3k/month. The manufacturing operation was moved to another Eu country where the workers get paid about €3/hour or €500/month all aided and abetted by the Eu with Infrastructural Grants to offset the over €100mln cost of building a state of the art factory. So dont talk to me about the Eu or a level playing regarding wages. the Eu represents big business not equality.
I am a fishermen and last year we were broken down we had two lads on contract and 5 Irish lads so for 3 months the contract lads got there money every week but we get nothing can’t even get the dole we are self employed but yet we can get sacked I started a new job and we are having problems with boat so I have not made a wage in 6 weeks I was on a boat when Mr Fleming came aboard check on out crew so he went to the foreign lads first and ask were they be treated OK and everything was and then I asked Mr Fleming how come you didn’t ask the Irish crew men which was five men and his answer was there Irish and they are OK it’s a total joke we work big hours and some times we don’t even make a wage cause of weather or other problems who is there to look after us
You get paid by what you catch. If it’s a poor week fishing wages will be poor , if it’s a good week fishing wages will be good simple science, if the don’t like it no one is stopping them from quitting their not chained to the boats like slaves, it’s a tough industry as it is without all this bolloxology .
@Sinbad the sailor: ‘simple science’, Russian for, ‘I’m trolling from St. Petersburg’.
@Sinbad the sailor: True that. I know of three Filipino fishermen doing prawns in The Porcupine all year round. Rarely come off the boat. £1200/month paid into the bank for herself and the family, and all are delighted.
If we’re going to even try to pretend that we live up to the most basic standard of decency, we have to give these fishermen a decent working wage. It’s not all about dangling a line over the bow of a boat, or dropping a net in the water, it’s a very dangerous job at times, and I’m speaking from personal experience from when I was younger.
We have all of these big brave comments from people hiding behind keyboards, giving out about immigrants, and the same people probably cream their pants trying to get a slice of toast out of the toaster with a fork. It’s pathetic.
@Grainne Abdulaziz: there illegal they should be stopped by the authorities long before the even get on a boat.
@Sinbad the sailor: There was never a time when illegal fisherman haven’t been on fishing vessels. I don’t think the general public give a damn how the fish on their plate is caught. I also notice a lot of syntax errors in your comments which strongly indicate you are not, yourself, an Irish-born fisherman. This doesn’t bother me personally, but can I ask are you operating on a valid licence and registered vessel in Irish waters?
@Grainne Abdulaziz: Grainne: our rescue services were out twice to rescue russian workers on factory ships recently – address that why we are giving our fish away. If you’re so worried about honours English i suggest you avoid this site and logic dictates foreign fishing interests are not going to support any of the arguments he posted which are to stand up for our National Interest which I would suggest is more important than your policing of the English language idem you are missing the point entirely. Look at the big picture.
@Grainne Abdulaziz: I’m Irish born, a fisherman of 20 years . Own my own boat employ only Irish crew. The industry has been good financially to us . In my 20 years I’ve only worked with Irish crew. Yes there is greedy fishermen who did or do employ illegal workers. But let not that tarnish the vast majority of good genuine Irish fishermen who work in this hard industry with the little quota we’re giving .
@Sinbad the sailor: You’re about as Irish as a pineapple, yourself and gregory are trolski trolski from Petrograd, dobra!
@Grainne Abdulaziz: well with a surname like yours I think the odds of me been more Irish than you are in my favour, plus we’re involved in the industry so if all you can question how Irish we are you know very little on the issues in the fishing industry
Load of old carp.
Fishing is always tough no matter where you are from.
Undocumented, illegal, or with work permit anyone not being paid for their labour is a slave. Slavery was abolished many years ago. Let’s not reintroduce it by sleight of hand.
Construction ask restaurant trade is no different but it was OK for I phone Joan to do it through Jobs bridge.
Remember it was 39 hrs per week for €50.
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