FRENCH FAR-RIGHT politician Jean Marie Le Pen has ruled out a visit to Ireland to debate the Lisbon treaty in the run-up to the referendum, saying he fears his presence here would be "exploited" by those in favour of the treaty.
In a statement issued yesterday, the leader of France's National Front said he and his deputy Bruno Gollnisch had decided to turn down several invitations they claim to have received from organisations in Ireland.
"Very precise information, by very reliable sources, convinced us that our presence would be exploited by agitators in favour of this treaty, like an external interference in a national debate," Mr Le Pen said.
"As patriots, ardent defenders of the independence and the freedom of the nations, respectful of national sovereignties, and particularly of those acquired by the struggle and the sacrifices of the people, like the sovereignty of Ireland; we do not intend to be manipulated by such unfair manoeuvres.
"We hope that the Irish people will make good use of its freedom to choose its destiny which is scandalously refused to all other nations of Europe."
In January UCD strongly criticised its own law society for inviting Mr Le Pen and Mr Gollnisch to a debate on the treaty. The law society, which is run by students, had asked the two men to address a gathering in late March or early April. A UCD spokesman described the society's move as an "ill-judged flight of fancy" at the time and said college authorities did not expect the talk would take place. A spokesman for Mr Le Pen refused to divulge what other invitations had been received but claimed there had been several others following the well-publicized controversy over the UCD law society invite.
Both Mr Le Pen and his deputy are fervent critics of the EU, which they argue undermines national sovereignty. Last October, Mr Le Pen attacked the Lisbon treaty at a sitting of the European Parliament, saying it represented a denial of democracy.
Several organisations campaigning for a No vote had criticised Mr Le Pen's plans to visit Ireland ahead of the referendum. Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald argued the far-right leader's presence would damage the No campaign.
Last month a French court gave Mr Le Pen a three-month suspended prison sentence and fined him €10,000 for saying the Nazi occupation of France was "not particularly inhumane". Mr Le Pen was found guilty of "justification of war crimes" and "denying crimes against humanity".