-Welcomes the Irish Catholic Bishops stating that Catholics can vote Yes to the Lisbon Treaty –





At a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs the Bishop of Down and Connor Most Rev Noel Traenor, a representative of the Irish Catholic Bishops, said that Catholics can, in good conscience, vote yes for the Lisbon Treaty. He also said there was no grounds to justify a No vote for religious or ethical reasons. He further criticised a number of publications and organisations that are intent on influencing the outcome of the forthcoming referendum by introducing misleading or inaccurate information.



Pat the Cope Gallagher, MEP for North and West has welcomed this saying “There have been many mistruths throughout the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign including scaremongering over issues such as abortion and euthanasia. This is completely inaccurate and has no basis in the Lisbon Treaty.



The reality is that Ireland’s position on the right to life is protected under the Irish Constitution and cannot be changed by Europe. These issues remain the decision of the Irish people. Ireland has also secured a legally binding protocol which states that the Lisbon Treaty and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights does not affect in any way the protections enshrined in the Irish Constitution concerning right to life, education and family matters.



That is why I welcome the announcement by the Irish Catholic Bishops and I hope that it will put a stop to the misinformation.”



September 17th 2009.



Ends.