NICE - Follow the money - Unprecedented propaganda campaign from Big Business -

Monday October 07, 2002 11:47

by wormholebrothers - fuckcopyright

Campaign expenditure for a Yes vote on the Nice Treaty is running at nearly nine times the amount being spent on the No side, according to figures provided by parties and groups involved in the referendum.

In the first of a two-part series on who's spending what in the campaign,Deaglán de Bréadún, reports on the groups seeking a No vote Campaign expenditure for a Yes vote on the Nice Treaty is running at nearly nine times the amount being spent on the No side, according to figures provided by parties and groups involved in the referendum.

The estimated expenditure by organisations promoting a Yes vote is EUR1.53 million, whereas the anti-Nice groups, according to their own figures, are spending EUR170,500.
In addition, more than EUR5.8 million is being spent on providing information or facilities for debate on European issues by the Government,
the Referendum Commission, the National Forum on Europe, the Institute of European Affairs and the European Movement Ireland. MEPs from different
parties are entitled to spend approximately EUR600,000 promoting one side or the other.
By law, campaign donations are limited to EUR6,348.69 and any campaign group or individual receiving more than EUR126.97 must register with the Standards in Public Office Commission and supply accounts. Companies or trade unions
contributing more than EUR5,078.95 must disclose the donation in their annual accounts. Foreign contributions are banned.

The main parties and groups seeking a No vote are:

Green Party: One of the main forces in the anti-Nice campaign although critics allege that some members and supporters are more enthusiastic than
others. Activities include postering, leaflets, public meetings and media interventions. The campaign director is newly elected Dublin West TD Mr Paul Gogarty, who estimates the cost at about EUR30,000, which will come from
party funds.

Sinn Féin: The republican party played a key role in the last No campaign and is making an even bigger effort this time, using the referendum to get its prospective candidates known to the electorate. Despite the turmoil in
the peace process, leading figures such as Mr Martin McGuinness and Mr Gerry Adams will play their part. Campaign expenditure is being increased fivefold, to between EUR60,000 and EUR70,000. The campaign director is Mr Daithí Doolan. The smaller Republican Sinn Féin party is also campaigning and the two have joined forces with the Greens in the Connemara Against Nice
group.

Peace and Neutrality Alliance: In the last vote, PANA said it would cease to oppose the treaty if Ireland cut all links with the EU's Rapid Reaction
Force. This didn't happen so they are back on the hustings again. PANA encompasses a wide range of affiliated organisations from Pax Christi to
Sinn Féin. Funds are estimated at EUR8,000 including a EUR4,000 donation from the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and affiliation fees, which have a EUR250 maximum. The chairman and chief spokesman is Roger Cole of the Labour Party's general council.

National Platform: This is basically Mr Anthony Coughlan and associates. The retired TCD lecturer and prominent Eurosceptic monitors EU developments
closely and e-mails his observations to contacts as well as posting them on his website. Campaign costs are about EUR30,000, raised from private
donations. Mr Coughlan lost some allies on the Left by highlighting the immigration issue.
No to Nice Campaign: This is essentially the anti-abortion group Youth Defence and its allies in Nice referendum mode. Leading spokesman is Justin
Barrett and expenditure, raised from donations and through advertisements in Catholic papers, will be about EUR100,000. The group is regarded with distaste by some of the other No campaigners because of its emphasis on the immigration issue.

Alliance Against Nice: A loose association of Independent TDs as well as the Greens, Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party and other, mainly left-wing, groups such as the Workers' Party and the Socialist Workers' Party. It is chaired by Mr Tony Gregory TD, who had no precise figure on funding other than to claim it was "pennies" compared to what was being spent on the other side. The components of the Alliance are also conducting their own anti-Nice
campaigns.

Equal in Europe: Describing itself as pro-EU but against Nice, this organisation claims the evidence contradicts warnings about losing jobs and inward investment if we vote No. The leading figures are solicitor Ms Linda McEvoy and barrister Mr Neil Patrick McCann and expenditure is estimated between EUR5,000 and EUR10,000 gathered from members' contributions.

Democrats Against Nice: This ad-hoc alliance of anti-Nice individuals is being launched tomorrow. Its members include former regional secretary of
the ATGWU Mr Mick O'Reilly, the artist Mr Robert Ballagh and former Northern civil rights activist Mr Kevin McCorry. Expenditure, funded from members' contributions, is expected to be less than EUR10,000. A sub-group, Trade Unionists Against Nice, is also being launched shortly.
Afri (Action from Ireland): The peace and human rights group, based in Dublin, focuses on what it sees as the gradual erosion of independence and
neutrality in Ireland's foreign policy. Afri has its own website and launched an anti-Nice CD featuring Mary Coughlan singing, Another Trick in
the Dáil, which was written by Prof John Maguire who also speaks on Afri platforms against the alleged militarisation conspiracy. Afri expects to
spend about EUR10,000 generated from fund-raising activities including sales of St Brigid's Crosses as a peace symbol.

There are other small groups campaigning for a No vote, such as Women Against Nice, chaired by Ms Maria Buckley from Athlone, and the Article 133
Information Group, which highlights the implications of Nice for the globalisation process.