LIBERTAS:THE FOUNDER of Libertas has described the rejection of the treaty as a "courageous and brilliant" decision by the Irish people.
In a wide-ranging interview with Eamon Dunphy on RTÉ radio at the weekend, Declan Ganley refused to rule out entering politics.
Asked if he would contest a seat in next year's European elections, the Tuam-based businessman said: "I don't know, is the honest answer… I'm a businessman and I'm pretty good at that.
"It would be a big departure for me and for my family… I wouldn't rule it in, and I wouldn't rule it out … What is more important to me is how this absolutely courageous and brilliant decision by the Irish people… [is] going to inform this debate and this relook at Europe."
Mr Ganley spoke of his upbringing as the Watford-born child of Irish emigrants who later returned to Co Galway, his career in business, his strong Catholic faith, and why he ran a campaign against the treaty.
He described himself as a "moderate democrat", and agreed with Dunphy's assessment of him as "conservative with a small C".
Libertas, he explained, was originally established as a think-tank.
"That was the idea, to talk about how to foster democracy, accountability and transparency in European governance because Europe has got to work. We cannot afford for the European project to fail."
Asked why he had invested time and money in campaigning against the treaty, Mr Ganley replied: "Because I have four children… and I want them to grow up in a Europe, and a world, that is democratic, accountable and free, where the sovereignty that matters most is the sovereignty of the individual."
On his support for Fianna Fáil in the past, he said he believed the party was "wrong" on the Lisbon Treaty. "I understand why Brian Cowen had to champion this thing, but it was bad for our country and it was bad for all of Europe."
Asked about Libertas' funding for the campaign, Mr Ganley said it was not "anything like" the €1.3 million the organisation is estimated to have spent.
"We will follow exactly the same rules and guidelines as set down by the Standards in Public Office Act, and we will make all of that information available as and when it should be available. You will find that not a penny came in from abroad to fund the Libertas campaign. We had a great response on the ground from the most ordinary of people and business people."
On the criticism levelled at Libertas during the campaign, Mr Ganley said he had expected it.
"When I made the decision that this was something that had to be done, I knew what I was letting myself in for."
He added: "What I've enjoyed seeing is just how mature, reflective and truly brilliant the Irish people are. We never bent the knee easily in this country over hundreds of years. We continued that tradition."