Britannist

Declan Ganley, the leading figure in the Irish Libertas campaign against the EU Constitution Lisbon 'Treaty' told RTE (the Irish radio and television service) at 3.30 pm today "People rejected this formula in France and Holland. We need to get the message that the democratic voice of the Irish people must be heard - the same message as from tens of millions of our fellow citizens (who voted against this 'Treaty' in France and Holland). People are sick of being patronised and talked down to by the EU. Irish people have just said they don't like the (EU Constitution) Lisbon 'Treaty'. A divide has opened up between EU citizens and the elite. This exclusive EU process of speaking down to people must end. Tens of millions of people - in France and Holland and now in Ireland - have said No to this."

When a europhile in the RTE radio studio told Mr. Ganley that 18 nations have ratified the EU Lisbon 'Treaty' Mr. Ganley said "but not by referendum."

Mr. Ganley (in response to a question from a journalist in the RTE studio) said it was not true that 1.3 million - 1.8 million had been spent by Libertas in their No campaign. He said the figure was well below 1.3 million euros.

The journalist said "Declan Ganley and Libertas have run a most efficient campaign in such a short time."

Mr. Ganley said "I am an Irishman; proud to be an Irishman and proud that the Irish people have voted No."

The turnout in yesterday's referendum in the Irish Republic (on the EU Constitution Lisbon 'Treaty') was higher than the EU Nice 2 referendum in the Irish Republic - there were claims (after the EU Nice 2 Treaty referendum in the Irish Republic) that higher voter turnouts (in the Irish Republic) help the europhile Yes side. This claim has not proved to be correct as regards the referendum held in the Irish Republic yesterday.