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Businessman Ben Dunne said today he is considering running as an independent anti-Lisbon candidate in the forthcoming European elections if a second referendum is held.

Mr Dunne was speaking the day after the French president Nicholas Sarkozy said that Ireland will have to hold a second referendum after the Lisbon Treaty was rejected by a majority of voters last month.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Lifelineprogramme this afternoon, the former managing director of Dunne Stores criticised Mr Sarkozy over his remarks.

“He (Sarkozy) is entitled to his free speech but he mightn't like the answers he's going to get back and I think he's got a hell of a cheek.

"We've only just had a referendum and the No side won and we shouldn't be putting it back to the country as quickly as he's attempting to do it,” said Mr Dunne.

Ruling out the possibility of standing for Libertas or any other anti-Lisbon group, Mr Dunne said would stand as an Independent No candidate if a decision is taken to hold another referendum ahead of the European elections in June.

Mr Dunne criticised the EU for being undemocratic and suggested that Ireland was being bullied by its European neighbours.

"Europe is being run by a load of bureaucrats who are making rules and regulations for us, some of which are quite good but some of which are terrible and they are not elected,” said Mr Dunne.

“What happens in three or four years when we try to veto something to do with tax or some of the other things we've got vetos on? Will Sarkozy and the big countries in Europe say that if you don't move on Ireland you are only 1 per cent of the population of the European Union and we'll have to leave you behind?