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..."[1]
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.[12]
The first Libertas Institute press release archived on the Wayback Machine dates to 22 June 2007.[13][14] It concerned French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Treaty of Lisbon's clause regarding free and undistorted competition:[13] an article by Ganley dated 16 July 2007 in Business Week covered similar themes.[15] The Libertas Institute continued to release press releases during its existence.
Libertas is registered at Moyne Park, Tuam, County Galway along with other organisations associated with Libertas and/or Declan Ganley.[16][17][18][19][20][21] 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:
Date
Description
2007–08
Room hire in the Davenport Hotel to discuss strategy[6]
2007–12
Room hire, Merrion Hotel, Dublin for a press conference[6]
2007–12
Photocall & billboard outside Merrion Hotel, Dublin[6]
2007–12
Hire of PR firm Bracken PR, employer of John McGuirk[6]
The deadline for submitting a copy of its 2008 bank statement to SIPO was 31 March 2009.[22]
Expenditure during the Lisbon I campaign was estimated at "approximately €800,000",[6] "exceeded €1 million",[6] or "€1.3 million",[6][22] or "€1.8 million".[22]
Income
The Libertas Institute had a loan facility with Ganley, and by 3 October 2008 it had used €200,000 of this money.[6] Since 1 January 2008, it also had the facility to receive public donations[6] via its website. Ganley and his wife (Delia Mary Ganley, née Paterek) also donated the maximum amount of €6,300 each.[23] Libertas stated that its donors were "100% Irish".[24]
Regulation
The Libertas Institute was a "third party" for the purposes of political fundraising.[6] Regulation of such is monitored by the Standards in Public Office Commission which imposed a donations limit of €5,348 per donor per year,[6] rising to €6,348.69 per donor per year in 2009,[25] imposes a limit of €126.97 for any given anonymous donation,[25] and disallows any donation from any non-Irish citizens resident outside the island of Ireland.[25]
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 CO2 emissions allowances.[26] It also deprecated the Treaty of Lisbon[27] and advocated a "no" vote in Lisbon I, the first Irish referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon.
On 12 March 2008, Libertas launched a "no" campaign called "Facts, not politics"[28]
and stated that they expected to spend in the region of €1.5m on the campaign.[29]
The campaign targeted wavering moderates,[30] the most critical votes for the referendum.[30] The campaign was joined by businessman Ulick McEvaddy on 20 April 2008.[31] Activities undertaken by Libertas during the referendum were as follows:
Ganley speaks at "The Lisbon Treaty – a Modest Proposal or a Faustian Pact" debate.[40]
2008‑06‑02
Press call, Buswells Hotel, Dublin.[41] 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".[42]
2008‑06‑09
Libertas attend European movement debate in ESB, Dublin[43]
The referendum was held on 12 June 2008[48]
and defeated by 53.4% to 46.6%, with a turnout of 53.1%.[49]
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
^ abThe CRO entry for the Libertas Institute gives these details:
^ abBrady, Hugo. 2008. "Will the Irish Guillotine Lisbon?". Centre for European Reform Briefing Note. "Archived copy"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Member parties are members of Libertas.eu. Members of member parties are automatically members of Libertas.eu unless they choose otherwise.
2
Affiliated parties are not members of Libertas.eu but are otherwise associated. Members of affiliated parties are not members of Libertas.eu unless they choose to join as individuals.
3
Parties presenting as Libertas.eu affiliates/members but not sanctioned by Libertas.eu when presentation commenced.
