Le Pen to promote 'no vote' on EU treaty during Ireland visit

Europe's far-right led by French right-wing politician Jean-Marie Le Pen warned Irish voters that the country risks becoming "a local authority in a new supra-national body" if they vote yes in the referndum on the new EU reform treaty.

Le Pen's aide and fellow eurosceptic French MEP Bruno Gollnisch made the comment after confirming that both of them are expected to visit Ireland in May ahead of the referendum, after receiving an invitation from the Law Society at UCD.

"I remind the Irish of their struggle for independence and warn that if they vote yes they are going to make you a local authority in a new supranational body," Gollnisch told reporters at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Their decision is expected to anger some groups within the Irish No campaign who believe their arrival in Dublin will damage their cause.

Sinn Féin, who are expected to be the only political party campaigning for a rejection of the treaty -- replacing the embattled EU constitution which was rejected by Dutch and French voters -- want Le Pen to stay away from the campaign.

"We don't want Mr Le Pen to come, of course we can not stop him, but we would preferred if stayed away," Sinn Féin chairwoman and MEP Mary Lou MacDonald told the Irish Independent.

"His narrow brand of xenophobic politics is not wanted in this campaign and to be honest he will end up only helping the 'yes' camp if he comes."

Europe Minister Dick Roche said it was "inappropriate interference" for Le Pen, Gollnisch and their colleagues to get involved in the referendum, adding that "the Irish people can make up their own minds without their help".

Gollnisch was one of several far right and eurosceptic members of the European Parliament have summoned yesterday to a disciplinary hearing after last December's disturbance of a plenary session.

About 100 lawmakers jeered and booed then EU president, Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, in a noisy protest against a new EU reform treaty signed later that week.

They were demanding referendums on the treaty, a modified version of a text rejected by French and Dutch voters.

Some of parliament's ushers complained of being jostled.

Disciplinary proceedings could include docking a member's daily allowance or suspension from the chamber. No Irish MEP is believed to have been involved.