McKenna denounces Sarkozy 'forum' decision

A leading anti-Lisbon treaty campaigner has claimed the Government is trying to suppress the voice of those opposed to the treaty.

This follows a move to scrap plans for French president Nicolas Sarkozy to meet in public with anti-Lisbon treaty campaigners when he visits Ireland next week.

Former Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna said today the move raised serious concerns about the Government's commitment to listen to the people and to respect the result of the Lisbon referendum.

“It also displays a fear of public debate that would allow Mr Sarkozy hear the views of the No side and allow the Irish people hear his reaction to those views,” she said

The French leader is due to arrive in Dublin next Monday for a five-hour visit.

Irish officials are said to be concerned that Mr Sarkozy could make the fallout from the referendum vote even worse for the Government.

Earlier this week Mr Sarkozy told a private meeting of his UMP party that Ireland would have to vote again on the treaty.

Ms McKenna, who is also the chairwoman of anti-Lisbon group the People’s Movement, said the move to deny No groups a public meeting with Mr Sarkozy demonstrated that the Government is still in a state of denial about the result.

“The reality is that the No side are already prominent by virtue of the fact they the won the referendum and no amount of suppression, spin doctoring or censorship with alter that fact,” she said.

The anti-treaty group People Before Profit Alliance has called on the public to protest against efforts to force a second referendum on Lisbon.

In a statement today, the group’s spokesman, Richard Boyd Barrett has said that the sole purpose of Mr Sarkozy’s visit to Ireland is to hatch a plot with the Government for a second referendum.

Mr Boyd Barrett said: “Sarkozy’s insistence that Ireland has no choice but to vote again on the Lisbon Treaty is outrageous and shows utter contempt for  democracy.

The group plans to protest outside Government Buildings during the French president's visit.