Ganley Pulls out of Lisbon Debate

[myk]

According to today's Irish Times, Libertas and Declan Ganley has withdrawn from a session of the Forum for Europe where he was supposed to speak, because he refused to share a platform with SF.

From today's IT:

• THE HEAD of a group campaigning for a No vote in the Lisbon Treaty has withdrawn from the next session of the Forum on Europe in protest at being asked to share a platform with Sinn Féin.
  
  Declan Ganley, the founder of Libertas, was due to speak on the economic implications of the treaty at the next plenary session of the forum on April 3rd.
  
  The group expressed "dismay" yesterday that it was being asked to share the platform with former EU commissioner Peter Sutherland and a representative of Sinn Féin. It objects in particular to Sinn Féin's involvement.
  
  It claimed that in sharing a platform with Sinn Féin, the only Oireachtas party campaigning for a No vote, that the views of both organisations would be perceived as being one and the same.
  
  Libertas spokesman John McGuirk said the group wanted to "make it absolutely clear that Declan Ganley will debate with Peter Sutherland anytime, anywhere.
  
  "This, however, is a very transparent attempt to link our position on the economic implications of the treaty with that of Sinn Féin, and it is something that we did not agree to," he said.
  
  However, the Forum on Europe pointed out that the format of its plenary sessions had shifted from time to time and, in the past, plenary sessions, had featured speakers from both sides.

[SPN]

Libertas spokesman John McGuirk said the group wanted to "make it absolutely clear that Declan Ganley will debate with Peter Sutherland anytime, anywhere.

"This, however, is a very transparent attempt to link our position on the economic implications of the treaty with that of Sinn Féin, and it is something that we did not agree to," he said.

The more this goes on the more it becomes apparent that Libertas is just a stalking horse sent out to discredit the No side of the argument.

Think about it: If you wanted to have any credibility would you hire John McGuirk as a spokesman? That boy is damaged goods.

[Edo]

Yeah the fact that SF are saying that we about to enter an imperialist capitalist privatisation extravagansa if we say yes probably would be difficult to reconcile with the socialist worker paradise we would have if we vote yes according to Libertas

McGuirky gives it away tho - Ganley is running scared of Sutherland - after all this is a man who got savaged by Ursula Halligan in nice mode and makes a complete fool of himself anytime anybody asks him a vaguely hard question in regard to this treaty - Sutherland would have him for Breakfast.


Funny thing is the only economic implications in this treaty are probalby savings from the reduction in the commissioners and the transparency that the EP and National parliaments will have over the commission and its dealings.

[myk]

If you wanted to have any credibility would you hire John McGuirk as a spokesman?

It was my understanding that John was working for a PR company engaged by Libertas, but two days in a row the Times have had articles quoting him as a spokesman for Libertas. I would have thought that implied he was employed by Libertas directly, but I don't know.

[The Collective.]

I think he's employed by Libertas. In my opinion, I wouldnt hire him to be the spokesman of my ************************.

[dotski_w_]

"This, however, is a very transparent attempt to link our position on the economic implications of the treaty with that of Sinn Féin,

Its obviously the exact opposite. The debate would not have led anyone to believe that their positions are compatible. Quite the reverse, it would have exposed the flatly contradictory nature of their arguments, making them look a mess, and Sutherland would have creamed them both.

Expect more of this - am looking forward to the start of the campaign proper. I expected that by getting out of the traps early the "no" side would have got a good start, but all that's happened is that they've started digging earlier.

[Compound Fracture]

Hang on a second where is David Cochrane in all this? Wasn't he the first to create a big hoopla over his (completely false) claims that Libertas was "un-invited" and that YFG were running away from a debate? John McGuirk last night accused FG/Lucinda Creighton of "running away from debate"

Who's running away now?!

It is comical that Ganley has hired John McGuirk to run his PR! The guy is a proven serial liar, and has attempted to torpedo and leak information from any organisation or campaign he has been involved in. (Ogra, TCD Hist, Young FG, etc.)

I wish him a long and fruitful career in Libertas!

[myk]

John McGuirk last night accused FG/Lucinda Creighton of "running away from debate"

where and when?

[Edo]

Hey lads - Give John a break - hes just a hired gun - Bracken consultants are the PR company hired by Libertas and John works for them.

I understand that relations are rather "tender" between John McG and the YFG fraternity - but dont shoot the messenger.

Its Ganley this thread is ment to be about.

[The Collective.]

From my understanding McQuirk is also a Libertas supporter.