Michael O'Leary presents Declan Ganley with copy of 100 Reasons to Vote Yes to Lisbon II

Michael O'Leary gives Declan Ganley copy of 100 Reasons to Vote Yes to Lisbon II

[Michael O'Leary and Declan Ganley]

At the Today FM Lisbon debate in Dublin yesterday, Michael O'Leary presented his No panel opponents, Declan Ganley, Joe Higgins and Patricia McKenna with copies of Nick McGinley's book, 100 Reasons to Vote Yes to Lisbon II.

O’Leary displayed copies of the book in front of his microphone for the duration of the debate like a mascot on University Challenge.

Matt Cooper opened the debate by announcing O'Leary “has already come in and presented copies of books to everybody - 100 Reasons to Vote Yes for Lisbon II, but we'll see by the end of the debate whether you think you should be voting Yes or voting No’’

Marian Harkin MEP began her contribution by saying “Well Michael O'Leary has given us a book 100 Reasons to Vote Yes to Lisbon, I'm afraid I'm doing the lower class version, I'm only giving you 5 reasons, but the first two are to do with democracy."

The book's writer, Nick McGinley, acknowledged the endorsement by O'Leary when he asked Joe Higgins MEP a question as part of the debate.

McGinley posed the following question to Higgins: “If the Charter of Fundamental Rights does nothing to bolster workers' rights, then why did the British and Polish governments, under pressure from employers' groups, choose to opt out of its provisions.”

McGinley, seated at the end of the front row facing the No panellists said afterwards “I never wish to be that close to Declan Ganley ever again. If I were to pick an egotistical multi-millionaire to get stuck in a lift with, I'd pick O'Leary over Ganley anyday.”