Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

When does the Leader expect the 28th amendment to the Constitution to be debated in the House? Does he know the date of the referendum on the Lisbon reform treaty? I feel it will be held at some time towards the end of May, probably on 29 May, or 6 June. It is better to deal with it as quickly as possible and have a full debate thereon.

In the legislation on the Lisbon treaty, our stance on neutrality is clear. This old chestnut has been brought up again by those who are opposed to the treaty. Neutrality and corporation tax are excluded and the treaty will not affect them. It is vitally important to note that there will be no change to our position on the legalisation of abortion in Ireland. At a meeting of the Council of Europe in Paris yesterday, which I attended on behalf of the Oireachtas, there was a debate on a report by Austrian rapporteur Gisela Wurm of the Socialist Group. I proposed that the report, entitled "Access to Safe and Legal Abortion in Europe", not be debated. A vote was taken and the result was 21 votes to three in favour. One member abstained. The report will now be debated at the plenary session in Strasbourg on 14 April. Regardless of whether it is accepted by the Council of Europe, which has 47 member states, it has no jurisdiction whatsoever, good, bad or indifferent, as far as the Republic of Ireland is concerned. Our constitutional amendment of 1983 and amendments thereafter state clearly that this State will not allow abortion within its shores. I want to make this clear in case anyone is trying to be mischievous——