France/EU

Protests greet Sarkozy in Dublin

Article published on the 2008-07-21 Latest update 2008-07-24 10:23 TU

Irish PR Brian Cowen and (r) French President Nicolas Sarkozy
(Credit: Reuters)

French President Nicolas Sarkozy was in Dublin on Monday to meet with the Irish government and opponents of the Lisbon Treaty. His visit comes in the wake of the Irish referendum which rejected the treaty in June. Despite reports last week that Sarkozy had suggested that the Irish vote again, Irish Taoiseach (PM) Brian Cowen said the French leader had confirmed his respect for the result of the Irish vote.

Following a meeting with Brian Cowen, the head of the Irish government, a joint statement from Paris and Dublin explained that Sarkozy respected the Irish rejection of the Lisbon treaty but that he was pleased the ratification was continuing in other EU member states.

His trip was nonetheless met by protesters who carried banners reading "Sarkozy, no means no".

Irish farmers however voiced support for the French president's position on world trade. Tractors covered in French, Irish and European flags accompanied the farmers whose banners read "Stop Mandelson's WTO sellout" a refence to EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

"Irish farmers, like their French colleagues, believe Mandelson is selling them out," said RFI's David Coffey, reporting outside the talks in Dublin.

 

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams was planning to speak with Sarkozy on the Lisbon Treaty. "I'll be impressing upon him that there cannot be a rerun of the Lisbon Treaty, if there is to be another treaty," he told RFI.