No, you can’t see my book, Barrett tells FF

THE No to Nice campaigner Justin Barrett accused the Yes camp of desperation yesterday by trying to whip up controversy over a book he is refusing to allow Fianna Fáil to read.

Fianna Fáil Junior Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche accused Mr Barrett of trying to hide the book, which includes his vision of the development of the EU.

But Mr Barrett, a prominent pro-life campaigner, said he had nothing to hide in his book, but would not give it to the party because it would try to use it as part of a smear campaign. "I think what we're hearing is the scraping of a very empty barrel. It was done up as an internal discussion document among pro-life people. It's my own personal views rather than the No to Nice this smacks of desperation," Mr Barrett said. He said he would reprint the book next week and it would be available to the Irish public, but he vowed not to give Fianna Fáil a copy.