Leo Varadkar, who has recently taken office as the Republic of Ireland’s Taoiseach (prime minister), has suggested that several referendums promised by the government may be held on the same day, possibly in the first half of 2018.  One proposed referendum is on whether Ireland should participate in the Unified Patent Court (UPC); as explained here, Ireland’s participation would require an amendment to the Constitution and any amendment to the Constitution must be approved in a referendum.  If Ireland does participate in the UPC then it is likely to establish a local division; in 2014 the government at that time announced its intention to do so, which was welcomed by the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (reported here).