Irish party declines Sarkozy invite

Ireland's Labour Party has turned down a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy next week to resolve deadlock over the EU reform treaty, saying the format proposed was "pointless" and a trifle arrogant.

Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore criticised the short time Sarkozy has allotted for a discussion of the stalemate caused by Ireland's rejection of the treaty.

"This kind of idea that President Sarkozy can come to Ireland and persuade us to change our mind or try and hear what we have to say and give us all three minutes each, I think there is a little degree of arrogance in that," he told public broadcaster RTE.

Ireland plunged the 27-nation bloc into a fresh crisis by voting against the treaty in a referendum last month. Sarkozy, whose country holds the European Union's rotating six-month presidency, will visit Dublin next Monday.

The pact, designed to streamline how the EU is run, is a replacement for a constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 and cannot come into force until it has been ratified by all member states.

Gilmore, whose party backed the treaty and is the third biggest in the Irish parliament, said in a statement that Monday's private round-table meeting at the French embassy would be attended by 15 to 16 organisations and last about one hour.

He told RTE Sarkozy was welcome to visit but nothing could be achieved by a "short soundbite-type rerun" of the debate.

"It is clear to me that the format proposed is not one that can elicit the diverse views of the Irish public on this complex matter," Gilmore said.

The Labour party is part of the socialist grouping in the European Parliament, while Sarkozy's ruling UMP is a member of the centre-right European People's Party.

Sarkozy caused anger in Dublin this week when he told UMP deputies that Ireland would have to hold a second referendum. Gilmore has said last month's "No" vote was disappointing but that he would oppose a second referendum.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen says it will take time to analyse why voters rejected the treaty, and it is too early to decide what would be the best way forward.