THE HEAD of a group campaigning for a No vote in the Lisbon Treaty has withdrawn from the next session of the Forum on Europe in protest at being asked to share a platform with Sinn Féin.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.
In a statement, it said: "This meeting has been organised to focus on the economic implications. We want to afford Declan Ganley and Libertas a special opportunity to put his case in considerable detail as one of the keynote speakers.
"This was a very straightforward effort to organise a detailed economic debate to encompass the diversity of views within the forum."
It was pointed out that the forum, to examine the economic implications, had invited Sinn Féin, which has a certain economic viewpoint; Libertas, which has a different one; and also Peter Sutherland, who is a supporter of the treaty.
The plenary session on the economic implications of the Lisbon Treaty will be held in Dublin Castle at 11.30am on April 3rd.