DECLAN Ganley, founder of Libertas, has estimated his personal wealth at around "a few million" if his assets were liquidated.

The anti-Lisbon treaty politician, who hopes to win a seat in the forthcoming European elections, last week laughed off the suggestion he was worth billions, saying: "No, absolutely not; maybe a few million. It depends, if you liquidated everything, especially in this day and age."

Speaking on the BBC's Hardtalk programme, Ganley deflected difficult questions on the Lisbon treaty, his foreign business interests and and his perceived personal secrecy. During the one-on-one interview, Ganley was told minister of state for European affairs Dick Roche had said to researchers: "Ganley is the doyen of double standards. He calls for openness, transparency and accountability; he won't answer legitimate media inquiries re­gard­­ing his business or his personal history."

Ganley said later in the interview that Roche's comments "amount to a slanderous attack" and rejected the notion his business interests were in conflict with his political aspirations.

Presenter Jonathan Dimbleby said Ganley presented himself as an Irish patriot but had business activities were based "heavily in other countries… and principally in the United States".

Ganley replied: "I don't present myself as an Irish patriot. I love my country; I make no apologies for that. It's for other people do decide whether I'm a patriot or not.

When pushed, he estimated 90% of his business interests lay outside Ireland and denied having business involvements "some of which may not like the EU".