CONCERNS HAVE been raised about the insistence of the organisers of the 'Your Country, Your Call' competition that they should have permanent ownership rights to the winning entry.

"I would have concerns with regard to intellectual property and copyright for a particular idea," Labour TD Ciaran Lynch told the Sunday Tribune.

"The sum of €100,000 [for the winner] might seem like a significant sum but this would seem like a bad return for an idea that could turn into a very successful company."

'Your Country, Your Call' is the brainchild of Martin McAleese, husband of the president, and the competition was designed to "find two major proposals that, when implemented, will transform our economy by creating jobs and opportunity".

There is still confusion surrounding the competition, which closes on Friday, particularly over what contribution the government will make. In response to a parliamentary question from Lynch on 23 March, former enterprise minister Mary Coughlan, said: "My department is currently examining a proposal to provide funding of up to €300,000 to the 'Your country, Your call' initiative."

This position has not changed, according to a spokesman for Coughlan's replacement in the department, Batt O'Keeffe.

A spokeswoman for 'Your Country, Your Call', said: "It is complex. It won't be an individual product that wins. It will not require patenting and intellectual property."