Libertas didn't break rules with €700,000 book handout
THE distribution by Libertas in the run-up to the Lisbon referendum of 35,000 books at a sales price of €20 each -- a total value of €700,000 -- is not being regarded as a campaign expense, a Dail committee was told yesterday.
So-called 'third party' campaign groups are not allowed to accept any "foreign" donation, or any donation from a single person in one year which exceeds €6,348, the Standards in Public Offices Commission told TDs and senators.
But the legislation specifies that the donations must be "for political purposes" and the Danish author of the book has said that it was offered to all sides for "public information".
Voters
The 100-page book, entitled 'The Lisbon Treaty, a readable version,' written by Jens-Peter Bonde, was widely distributed last year by blue-clad Libertas workers who urged voters to read the treaty for themselves.
But David Waddell, secretary to the Standards Commission, told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs that Mr Bonde was disputing that he had made the book available for political purposes, as defined by the act.
The commission is now calling on the Environment Minister, who is charged with political responsibility for the holding of elections and referenda, to change the law.
Libertas admitted accepting free copies of the book from the Foundation for European Democracy, but claimed it didn't contain a political message.
- Senan Molony Deputy Political Editor
