LIBERTAS:FORMER EUROPEAN commissioner Peter Sutherland has accused the founder of Libertas, Declan Ganley, of advancing "palpably false" arguments about the Lisbon Treaty.
In a debate on TV3's The Political Partyyesterday, Mr Sutherland said his opponent was misleading people about the contents of the treaty. "You advance arguments in terms of the taxation powers of this treaty which are palpably false," said Mr Sutherland.
He also said the arguments made by the No campaign about the implications for foreign direct investment and neutrality were also totally wrong.
Mr Ganley maintained that if the treaty was put to a referendum across Europe it would be rejected out of hand because it is an anti democratic document.
He insisted that foreign direct investment could be threatened. "It doesn't mean we can't use tools of foreign direct investment but it means that toolbox that up to now belonged to Ireland is handed to Brussels. And if we want to use those tools we will have to ask nicely and explain why.
"Let's remember, European competitors think that we are acting unfairly with our foreign direct investment policies and our taxation policies. They intend to close down our ability to co-operate and be fleet of foot in these areas. It's essential that we keep control of foreign direct investment here in Ireland and we don't under this treaty," said Mr Ganley.
Mr Sutherland said Mr Ganley was not being honest with the Irish people and he reiterated that Article 188 of the treaty clearly retained a veto on any decision relating to imposition of rules on foreign direct investment.
Meanwhile, Brendan Kiely, director of the Irish Alliance for Europe, last night called on the Referendum Commission to clarify that Ireland's law in relation to abortion is not affected by the treaty.
