How Libertas funded its anti-Lisbon treaty referendum

The commission’s report says that the law should be changed to make it an offence to hinder their work or refuse to co-operate. 

Their 37-page report lists their various attempts to find out where Libertas got its funding after it was estimated the group spent over e1 million on its campaign. 

But despite letters and phone calls the commission, chaired by former High Court Judge Mr Justice Matthew Smith, was unable to establish the details of a e20,000 loan given to Libertas by its founder, businessman Declan Ganley, and whether 35,000 copies of a version of the treaty was a donation from a European euro-sceptic body or not. 

The commission, charged with making sure the rules on funding referenda and elections are followed, also failed to find out how many people were employed by Libertas during the campaign last year and their involvement with Mr Ganley’s company, Rivada Networks. 

They say the Government should change he law to have all groups register that intend to spend more than e5,000 on a particular election or referendum campaign and disclose details of their spending and funding.

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by Ann Cahill

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