Libertas has robustly denied accusations that founder Declan Ganley "chickened out" of a debate on Ireland's future post-Lisbon.

Declan Ganley.

Mr Ganley was due to speak at the Humbert Summer School, which is being held in Ballina, Co. Mayo this weekend.

According to organisers, he withdrew late after personally assuring them he would participate.

However, a spokesperson for Mr Ganley told the Galway Independent that it was "ridiculous" to say he had "chickened out" of the debate.

Libertas Executive Director, Naoise Nunn said that Mr Ganley was "hugely disappointed" that he was unable to take part in the Lisbon Treaty debate, and that other Libertas speakers including himself had been offered, but rejected.

"During and since the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign, Declan Ganley accepted and engaged in debates with such figures as former Commissioner, Peter Sutherland; Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan; French President, Nicolas Sarkozy; Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny; Labour MEP Prionsias de Rossa; Minister of State for European Affairs, Dick Roche and many others at public and private meetings, in debates and on radio and television," he added.

Mr Nunn said Libertas was currently "consulting internally" in relation to next year's European elections.

"We don't have any candidates that we're prepared to name as yet – we are consulting internally in relation to next year's elections and we are meeting people across Europe," he said.

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