Council resolutions not binding here

I WAS extremely disappointed to see a newspaper of the stature of the Irish Examiner making a fundamental error in its report on a recent Council of Europe resolution on abortion.

The headline (April 17) suggesting this resolution was an EU proposal may have sown confusion among some of your readers.

Let me clarify the situation.

* The Council of Europe is a completely separate entity to the European Union. Resolutions such as this one are in no way binding on Ireland.

* Ireland maintains its absolute right to determine its own position on abortion, in line with the protection of the right to life contained in Article 40.3.3 of Bunreacht na hÉireann;

* The EU Reform Treaty reaffirms a protocol in the EU treaties which clearly states that “nothing in the treaties shall affect the application in Ireland of Article 40.3.3 of the constitution of Ireland.”

* This protocol has protected Ireland’s national position for over 15 years and will continue to do so.

I trust your readers will not be misled by scare stories — there are plenty of them about — and will vote yes on June 12 in order to secure for Ireland the many benefits that will flow from ratification of the reform treaty.

Dick Roche TD

Minister for European Affairs

Department of Foreign Affairs

Iveagh House

St Stephen’s Green

Dublin 2