THE REFERENDUM Commission and the Government have been challenged to send a copy of the Lisbon Treaty to every household in Ireland with a summary of the Yes and No arguments.
Chairman of Libertas, Declan Ganley, pointed out that the European Constitutional Treaty had been sent to every French household prior to their referendum.
He said if an impartial summary of the arguments for and against the treaty was not issued by an official body, then Libertas would send out its own summary.
Attacking Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for failing to reveal the referendum date, Mr Ganley said: "The silly games have to stop."
Speaking in Dublin yesterday at the launch of his organisation's campaign against the treaty, Mr Ganley said the main slogan would be: "Facts, not politics."
As well as delivering 1.8 million booklets to the electorate, Libertas would use billboards, newspaper advertising and direct mail as well as embarking on a national information tour. Asked about the financing of the campaign, Mr Ganley said: "We are conforming and complying with the laws on funding of these types of campaigns, as set out."
Libertas had an online donation facility and contributions had ranged from €5 to €5,000: "There are some wonderful people that are stepping forward."
He said he could not give any of their names: "There is a reticence, understandably, on the part of some in the business community to be able to come forward for fear of being picked on and ostracised".
Asked how much Libertas would spend on its campaign, he replied: "As much as we need to." Asked if it would be more than €25,000 he replied: "It will be more than €25,000 unfortunately."
Asked about his personal contribution, he said: "I am legally allowed to donate on a personal basis €6,438." He could do that twice: "I can do it for last year and I can do it for this year."
Libertas had "several hundred" supporters. So far, there had been no donations higher than €5,000.
"Nobody in Libertas would argue that the EU hasn't been successful," he said, pointing out that he personally had voted in favour of the Nice Treaty. "I love Europe almost as much as I love Ireland."
On his motivation in opposing the treaty, he said: "Call it naive idealism if you want, this isn't just a little bit wrong for Europe, it's enormously wrong for Europe."
Fianna Fáil TD Barry Andrews accused Libertas of misrepresenting the treaty's text. In a statement, he said: "These are the sort of anti-EU tactics which are common in Britain but they are new here."
Meanwhile, Independent TD for Dublin Central, Tony Gregory has added his name to the list of patrons of the People's Movement which is campaigning against ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.
