Commission: Treaty will not affect abortion law

The Referendum Commission says the Lisbon Treaty will not affect Ireland's constitutional law on abortion.

The commission made the comment this morning at a briefing to clarify a number of issues being discussed as part of the referendum debate.

These include world trade agreements, abortion, the workings of qualified majority voting and the areas in which the EU has powers to act.

Commission chairman Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill said Ireland would not be forced to end its prohibition on abortion if the treaty is passed as Article 43.3 of the Irish Constitution is protected under EU law.