Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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463. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46515/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Protocol on the Concerns of the Irish people on the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on 1 December 2014, following its ratification by all EU Member States including Croatia. Section 1, paragraph (iv) of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 2012 amends section 1(1) of the European Communities Act 1972 so as to include a reference to the Protocol within the definition of “treaties governing the European Union”. To coincide with the Protocol’s entry into force, section 1, paragraph (iv) was commenced on 1 December 2014 by Statutory Instrument No. 577 of 2014.

Article 1 of the Protocol provides that nothing in the Treaty of Lisbon attributing legal status to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, or in the provisions of that Treaty in the area of Freedom, Security and Justice affects in any way the scope and applicability of the protection of the right to life in Article 40.3.1, 40.3.2 and 40.3.3, the protection of the family in Article 41 and the protection of the rights in respect of education in Articles 42 and 44.2.4 and 44.2.5 provided by the Constitution of Ireland.