EU to probe Libertas funding
The presidents of the political groups in the parliament discussed the issue at their meeting in Brussels yesterday for 45 minutes and decided against setting up a Committee of Enquiry. They said fears of external interference in a vote was the concern of the member country concerned — in this case Ireland — and it was up to the national authorities to investigate.
Irish MEP Brian Crowley, who attended the meeting as co-president of the UEN (Union for Europe of Nations) group, said they agreed to send whatever relevant information they get on the case to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) in Dublin.
The presidents noted that SIPO had real investigative powers and any proven misuse of funds, either in the way they were raised or spent, could lead to sanctions, including of a criminal nature. They also agreed to regularly and closely monitor the situation and to return to the issue when SIPO or any Irish authorities reached a conclusion.
Mr Crowley said everybody emphasised the need for full transparency in the funding of any campaign where people were required to vote. “We can look again after SIPO reports and see if there is an issue for Europe. We are not trying to stop a debate, we need to make sure everyone is playing by the same rules,” he added.
He said the meeting noted that the head of Libertas, Declan Ganley, confirmed that he had made a personal loan of €200,000 to the campaign and had structured a loan facility that would allow Libertas to draw down a higher amount if and when needed.
A parliament spokesman said they were in no way trying to overturn the result of the referendum, but people needed to know who was behind any campaign.
“If it’s the US, fine, but we need to know,” said one source. Under Irish legislation Irish elections and referenda can only be funded by Irish taxpayers, citizens or their close relatives.”
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