Libertas didn't break rules with €700,000 book handout

[mmrebel]

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 didn't break rules with €700,000 book handout - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie

[joemomma]

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.

That's all rather ambiguous. Is he saying that SIPO don't consider it illegal or just that Bonde is disputing that it's illegal?

[OMahonyMunster]

It reads like typical Libertas fudge scamming, yes we did but no we didnt

In this case SIPO are saying the law must be tightened to remove the ambiguity.

Bonde is saying it was "public information" not a political etc

That is crap as Bonde is Libertas so SIPO should have looked at it a bit deeper, did they know Bonde is Libertas?

[ibis]

That's all rather ambiguous. Is he saying that SIPO don't consider it illegal or just that Bonde is disputing that it's illegal?

It is sufficient, I think, that Bonde declares that the book was not given for political purposes. If Libertas then used it for a political purpose, that is irrelevant.

Libertas continue their highlighting of every SIPO loophole...

[pd_phoenix]

oh no evil Libertas providing Irish people with material on an important treaty they must vote on. How dare they.

[ibis]

oh no evil Libertas providing Irish people with material on an important treaty they must vote on. How dare they.

Heavily biased material, admittedly. They were certainly pro-active about distributing the material, but lets not pretend it was some kind of public service.

[pd_phoenix]

the answer is in the title of this thread. Libertas didn't break the rules. If your looking for anyone to blame why not SIPO

[OMahonyMunster]

It is sufficient, I think, that Bonde declares that the book was not given for political purposes. If Libertas then used it for a political purpose, that is irrelevant.

Libertas continue their highlighting of every SIPO loophole...

Ibis are you suggesting that the party of "Transparency and accountability" would exploit "loopholes"?

Could it be that they a merely power hungry scubbag politicos and not angels sent to earth to save us?

[ibis]

the answer is in the title of this thread. Libertas didn't break the rules. If your looking for anyone to blame why not SIPO

It's equally almost impossible to prove corruption (because you're required to prove that money X was given for favour Y), but that doesn't stop me knowing that FF is corrupt - because the SIPO rules are too weak. Libertas demonstrating the weakness of the SIPO laws by exploiting the loopholes does not make Libertas right to do so, any more than when any other party does it.

Could it be that they a merely power hungry scubbag politicos and not angels sent to earth to save us?

Clearly there are those who believe they are the PDs come again - and who even believe that is a good thing.

[pd_phoenix]

?

Can't you have the intellectual honesty to admit that handing out copies of the very treaty people are being asked to vote on a) should not be against the law and b) is actually worthy of some credit?

They read the headline saw Libertas and came to their own conclusions. Even when they were cleared of any wrong doing. Thats the impression I get anyway.