Patent referendum will fall like the others unless the wording is correct

The referendum on the EU Unified Patents Court, making it easier for individuals, inventors, creators and businesses to protect their ideas, copyrights and brands across the EU (‘Referendum in doubt as Coalition fears another heavy defeat’, Irish Independent, April 12), is unlikely to go ahead on June 6.

This represents a U-turn by our new Taoiseach, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

If the referendum was passed, there would be need for only one patent for each product, brand or idea instead of 27, covering the EU, with less red tape, lower costs and instead of multiple national courts only one court for patent rights.

The referendums on family and care were defeated because the wording was unacceptable to an astute electorate. Political parties and others influenced outcomes and the wording was influenced by a minority with economic concerns.

It is not for others or political parties “to get out there and fight for it” to influence the outcomes of referendums.

It behoves the Government to decide on the wording for the purpose of a referendum.

It needs to produce the wording for the Unified Patents Court, allow the Independent Electoral Commission to carry out its work and for political parties and others to allow the electorate, as is their right without influence or interference, to decide.

Hugh McDermott Dromahair, Co Leitrim