Idea that Lisbon Treaty could open door to abortion in Ireland is complete fabrication - Crowley

"The idea that the Lisbon Treaty could open the door to abortion in Ireland is a complete fabrication. The Treaty would do nothing of the sort. How could it? The European Union does not have the power to legislate for abortion. After all, the treaty carries forward the protocol on the right to life of the unborn agreed at the time of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. That protocol clearly states that no existing or future EU treaty can affect the application in Ireland of our constitutional protection of the unborn. Could anything be clearer than this? In the 17 years since its inception our protocol has never been challenged by anyone within the EU."

"The package secured by Ireland at last month’s European Council includes an additional guarantee on certain sensitive ethical issues. Our new legal guarantee makes it absolutely clear that the Charter of Fundamental Rights does not affect in any way the protection to the right to life provided for in the Irish Constitution. This means that the charter cannot be the basis for a legal challenge to Ireland’s abortion laws. Those who make such claims have no respect for facts and no regard for the truth. The charter only relates to EU institutions and EU laws and does not alter or undermine existing national constitutional protections."

"Respected pro-life commentators recognise that this legal guarantee represents a very positive development and that people who had reservations last year about right to life and other ethical issues can now support Lisbon. The legal guarantees were agreed at last month’s European Council as a decision of the 27 EU heads of state and government. The EU leaders stated that this decision is legally binding and that it will take effect on the date of entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Heads of state and government do not make such commitments lightly. The decision will be registered as an international agreement with the United Nations, in accordance with the provisions of the UN charter. It was also agreed at the European Council that the provisions of the decision will be annexed to the EU treaties as a protocol at the time of the next accession treaty.  A protocol has the same legal force as a treaty. It will be for the Irish people to decide on the merits of the Lisbon Treaty and the legal guarantees we have now secured. I believe the treaty is good for Ireland and that we should support it."

"I would appeal to those who oppose ratification of Lisbon to stick to the facts and refrain from spreading falsehoods about such issues as abortion. There is plenty of information available about the treaty. I would recommend the website www.lisbontreaty.ie which contains objective information on the treaty and the guarantees."