The Libertas Institute is a lobby group that along with others successfully campaigned for a "no" vote in the 2008 referendum in Ireland on the Treaty of Lisbon.
Mission statement Its mission statement was "...to initiate and provoke enlightened discussion on the European Union, its relevance to its member states and peoples and its role in World affairs having regard to our shared values of peace, democracy, individual liberty and free markets...""Libertas Institute:Mission Statement" Libertas Institute website, retrieved via 20071117014019 entry on the Wayback Machine
Founders The founders of the Libertas Institute were:
FounderNotesDeclan Ganley"Most Libertas founders work for firm with military links", Irish Times, Tuesday, 20 May 2008Associated with Ganley Group"Ganley Group:Management team" , from the Ganley group website and Rivada Networks."Rivada Networks:Key Personnel" from the Rivada Networks websiteNaoise NunnAssociated with Rivada Networks.James O'ReillyAssociated with Ganley Group and Rivada Networks.Norrie KeaneAssociated with Rivada Networks.Martina HigginsAssociated with Ganley Group and Rivada Networks.Seán GanleyBrother of Declan.Dr. Chris CoughlanLater president of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland
Personnel Libertas Institute personnel included:
NameJob(s)NotesDeclan GanleyPresident "Libertas Institute:Management" Libertas Institute website, retrieved via 20071117014217 entry on the Wayback MachineFounderNaoise NunnExecutive DirectorNo longer in post"Substantial amount of funding for Libertas came from Ganley", Irish Times, Friday, 3 October 2008"Nationality of Libertas founder was listed as British in UK records", Irish Times, Monday, 22 September 2008David CochranePublishing Director,later Campaign Manager"Libertas Staff" Libertas Institute website, retrieved via 20080122115509 entry on the Wayback MachineIrish political blogger and editor on Politics.ie .Member profile of David Cochrane on Politics.ie .Associated with Rivada Networks.John McGuirkCommunications Director"Libertas executive director is Rivada employee", Irish Times, Saturday, 24 May 2008No longer in postCaroline SimonsSenior Spokesperson"Ganley insists 'this is a pro-European message'" Irish Times, Saturday, 14 June 2008
Charter The Libertas Charter (archived here) defined what was considered to be Europe's traditional values and influences, asserted what citizens' rights and responsibilities were, acknowledged the EU's role since WWII, stated that the present EU's structure was inherently undemocratic and unaccountable, and pledged to create a popular movement to debate Europe's future."Libertas Institute:Charter" Libertas Institute website, retrieved via 20071117014059 entry on the Wayback Machine
The charter was signed by the following:
Declan J. Ganley Naoise Nunn Dr. Constantin Gurdgiev Paul MacDonnell Carlos Rodriguez Dr. Jana Hybaskowa, MEP Ivan Gabal Dr. Chris Coughlan Professor Roger Downer Artur Osuchowski Stephen Nolan Dr. Eamonn Conway Eamonn Cregan Gerard Lawless Diego Solana Francis O'Flaherty James O'Reilly David Cochrane Keith O'Grady Fiona Fallon Zoltan Angyal Professor Antonio Bar Cendón Michael McCann
Press releases The first Libertas Institute press release archived on the Wayback Machine dates to 22 June 2007."Libertas Institute:Home" Libertas Institute website, retrieved via 20070630145757 entry on the Wayback Machine It concerned French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Treaty of Lisbon's clause regarding free and undistorted competition:"Libertas Expresses Outrage at Sarkozy's Assault on Single Market" Libertas Institute press release, 22 June 2007, retrieved via 20070627043906 entry on the Wayback Machine an article by Ganley dated 16 July 2007 in Business Week covered similar themes."An Anticompetitive Europe Must Not Rise", Business Week, 16 July 2007 The Libertas Institute continued to release press releases during its existence.
Commonality with other organisations
Libertas is registered at Moyne Park, Tuam, County Galway along with other organisations associated with Libertas and/or Declan Ganley."Self Serving US Military Agenda of Messrs Ganley and McEvaddy" FineGael.ie Press Release, 25 April 2008"Man who says no" Irish Independent, Saturday 7 June 2008"Opening of September II plenary session: Minute of silence for victim of ETA bombing / Funding of the No campaign in Ireland", European Parliament press release, 22 September 2008"MEPs seeking source of Libertas funding", Jamie Smyth, Irish Times, 23 September 2008"Ireland Takes the EU Spotlight" Washington Post, 12 June 2008"On the mysterious trail of 'Mr No'", Irish Times, 31 May 2008 A list of organisations associated with Libertas.eu and/or Declan Ganley is given here.
Funding Expenditure 2007 expenditure by Libertas Institute Ltd according to its accounts was:
DateDescription2007–08Room hire in the Davenport Hotel to discuss strategy2007–12Room hire, Merrion Hotel, Dublin for a press conference2007–12Photocall & billboard outside Merrion Hotel, Dublin2007–12Hire of PR firm Bracken PR, employer of John McGuirk
The deadline for submitting a copy of its 2008 bank statement to SIPO was 31 March 2009.
Expenditure during the Lisbon I campaign was estimated at "approximately €800,000", "exceeded €1 million", or "€1.3 million", or "€1.8 million"."Comment: Ganley cashed in on our ‘kick the cat’ mood ", Sunday Business Post, Sunday, 15 June 2008
Income The Libertas Institute had a loan facility with Ganley, and by 3 October 2008 it had used €200,000 of this money. Since 1 January 2008, it also had the facility to receive public donations via its website. Ganley and his wife (Delia Mary Ganley, née Paterek) also donated the maximum amount of €6,300 each. Libertas stated that its donors were "100% Irish".RTÉ news – Martin accuses Libertas over Cowen criticism – Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Regulation The Libertas Institute was a "third party" for the purposes of political fundraising. Regulation of such is monitored by the Standards in Public Office Commission which imposed a donations limit of €5,348 per donor per year, rising to €6,348.69 per donor per year in 2009,"Third Parties" from the Standards in Public Office Commission/Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí website imposes a limit of €126.97 for any given anonymous donation, and disallows any donation from any non-Irish citizens resident outside the island of Ireland.
Aims The Libertas Institute advocated a European Energy Innovation Fund intended to license and fund carbon-neutral energy producers, the funding deriving from auctions of emissions allowances."Libertas Energy Initiative – European Energy Innovation Fund" Libertas Institute website, retrieved via 20080122130832 entry on the Wayback Machine It also deprecated the Treaty of Lisbon"Libertas.org – The Lisbon Treaty" Libertas Institute website, retrieved via 20080122112042 entry on the Wayback Machine and advocated a "no" vote in Lisbon I, the first Irish referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon.
Libertas in the Lisbon I campaign
On 12 March 2008, Libertas launched a "no" campaign called "Facts, not politics" and stated that they expected to spend in the region of €1.5m on the campaign. The campaign targeted wavering moderates, the most critical votes for the referendum.Brady, Hugo. 2008. "Will the Irish Guillotine Lisbon?". Centre for European Reform Briefing Note. The campaign was joined by businessman Ulick McEvaddy on 20 April 2008."McEvaddy joins Lisbon 'no' campaign", RTÉ News, 20 April 2008 Activities undertaken by Libertas during the referendum were as follows:
DateNote2007–12 to 2008–06Libertas distribute 35,000"Libertas denies breach of electoral donations law", Irish Times, Wednesday, 11 June 2008 copies of "The Lisbon Treaty, the Readable Version", a text edited by MEP Jens-Peter Bonde"What next after Lisbon fallout?" – Irish Times, Tuesday, June 17, 2008 and produced by the Foundation for EU Democracy, the European political foundation affiliated to the EUDemocrats, the European political party headed at the time by MEP Jens-Peter Bonde2007‑12‑13Ganley speaks at press conference, Dublin."EU Leaders Sign Treaty, Plan to Avoid Popular Votes (Update2)", Bloomberg, 13 December 20072008‑04‑21Ganley campaigns in Castlebar,"Lisbon: Don’t say yes without reading treaty" , Sligo Weekender, 22 April 2008 Sligo and Letterkenny.2008‑04‑28John McGuirk defends on the radio Ganley's rejection of the CAP."Libertas leader attacked CAP", Irish Independent, Saturday 3 May 20082008‑05‑12Ganley spoke at a Forum on Europe regional meeting, Hotel Meyrick, Galway.REFERENDUM DIGEST, Irish Times, Monday, 12 May 20082008‑05‑28Ganley takes part in a televised debate and states that the Treaty of Lisbon allows the detention of three-year-old children"Ganley defends comments on detention of young children", Irish Times, Friday, 30 May 20082008‑05‑29Ganley campaigns in Sligo."The smart people of Ireland have No excuse, says Libertas", Irish Times, Thursday, 29 May 20082008‑05‑31Ganley speaks at "The Lisbon Treaty – a Modest Proposal or a Faustian Pact" debate.REFERENDUM DIGEST, Irish Times, Saturday, 31 May 20082008‑06‑02Press call, Buswells Hotel, Dublin.REFERENDUM DIGEST, Irish Times, Monday, 2 June 2008 Ganley stated that a "yes" vote would jeopardise Ireland's corporate tax and that "a No vote would allow the Government to negotiate a 'better deal' for Ireland"."Ganley says tax issue is key to Libertas campaign", Irish Times, Tuesday, 3 June 20082008‑06‑09Libertas attend European movement debate in ESB, DublinREFERENDUM DIGEST, Irish Times, Monday, 9 June 20082008‑06‑09Libertas canvass in Tallaght2008‑06‑09Libertas attend Rock The Vote debate, Dublin2008‑06‑09Ganley appears on RTÉ's Questions and Answers.2008‑06‑09Ganley buys tickets to Brussels for Brian Cowen, Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore"Libertas buys Cowen a ticket to Brussels", RTÉ News, Monday, 9 June 20082008‑06‑12Ganley spoke at a public meeting in Ranelagh.REFERENDUM DIGEST, Irish Times, Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Several politicians, including Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche, clashed with the group's campaign stance but the Sunday Business Post reported that the group's efforts at projecting its warnings about the treaty in the media were "hugely successful".
The referendum was held on 12 June 2008 and defeated by 53.4% to 46.6%, with a turnout of 53.1%.
Aftermath Following the referendum, attention shifted to Ganley's new political party Libertas.eu, and the Libertas Institute website libertas.org was redirected to that party's website.
Notes
References
External links Who is Declan Ganley? website Libertas Institute homepage prior to its redirect to Libertas.eu. Accessed via Wayback Machine. Libertas Institute blog. Accessed via Wayback Machine Constitution Watch blog. Accessed via Wayback Machine David Cochrane editor politics.ie