John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I request the Leader to make inquiries of the Standards in Public Office Commission in connection with the ongoing investigations of Libertas. The last referendum on the Lisbon treaty was lost but there is still some outstanding business from it. I have knowledge of fund-raising and know how difficult it is to bring in €500,000 to fight a referendum. This new group was able to spend €1.3 million, or to take the lower figure it claims of €800,000, including a €200,000 loan that came to light only after the event. This group has been looking for transparency from Brussels but once the question was raised by the Standards in Public Office Commission, a solicitor's letter was immediately sent to ensure no answers could be given. It is a simple question of whether any outside money was sent to fight the campaign here.