‘Rights’ vote a big blow to Lisbon II

EU parliamentary approval (January 14) guaranteeing access to “sexual and reproductive health and rights” — a term which is often interpreted to include abortion on demand and also recognition that same-sex unions have the same status as heterosexual marriage — will have serious consequences with regard to the Irish people accepting any proposed Lisbon Treaty rerun.

This violates our constitutional protection of the right to life and of marriage. Despite the fact that the Lisbon Treaty and the charter of fundamental rights annexed to it have already been rejected by the Irish people, we now find EU member states must guarantee access to abortion and same-sex unions as a right.

Referring directly to the charter, the motion states that “the Lisbon Treaty confers on the EU charter of fundamental rights a legal value either through the primacy of EU law or by interpretation by European courts and member states must be compliant with the charter”.