Ireland's Referendum Commission has said that the EU's Lisbon treaty is not a threat to Ireland's abortion law. However, the Commission's president, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill, gave no answer to a question on the significance of the removal of Ireland's veto over 'arrangements for the control of implementing powers' within the treaty. This is an ominous development when the person who is responsible for providing impartial information is either unable or unwilling to answer it. It does not augur well for the future that there are aspects of the treaty which are undefined. Despite his denial on the abortion issue this hesitation raises major questions.
