Probe into Libertas referendum funding draws a blank

AN investigation by the Standards in Public Office commission into how Libertas funded its anti-Lisbon treaty referendum campaign has drawn a blank.

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 the 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.

Europe Minister Dick Roche said the report catalogued Mr Ganley’s efforts to keep secret the sources of funding.

“Mr Ganley appears to take the stance that he is above the law which applies to other parties who campaigned on both sides of the referendum debate,” he said.

Mr Roche added that the SIPO report raised serious questions about the role of Mr Ganley’s company in the referendum campaign and the possible interference by foreign interests in Irish domestic politics.

The Labour Party spokesperson on European Affairs, Joe Costello TD, criticised Libertas for failing to provide SIPO with the information it requested.

“Declan Ganley repeatedly said that he would provide SIPO with all the information required. The SIPO report tells a very different story.”