The campaign for a Yes vote on the Lisbon Treaty to reform the EU received a boost yesterday when the Green parliamentary party deciding unanimously to back the Yes campaign.
The Greens have campaign for a No vote in five EU referendums over the past 21 years, and the support of their TDs and senators for the Yes side in the forthcoming referendum is a new departure.
The decision of the six Green TDs and two senators to support the Lisbon Treaty came in advance of a special party members' convention on the issue which will be held in Dublin on Saturday.
Welcoming the decision of his colleagues, party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley insisted that the Green Party would make its own decisions and ignore outside interference.
"I totally reject recent comments by sinister right-wing figures about how the Green Party should conduct its internal debate. I am confident that our members will enjoy a full and open debate about the EU treaty this weekend," said Mr Gormley.
The Green Party European affairs spokeswoman, Senator Deirdre de Burca , urged all members to participate in Saturday's debate.
"Our members have a very important decision to make on Saturday. I hope that as many people as possible turn up to hear a very full and balanced debate on the treaty."
Delegates to the convention will debate motions to support the Yes and the No campaigns.
A two-thirds majority will be required to commit the party as a whole to either side. The party's TDs and senators are hoping to mobilise the required majority to back the Yes campaign, but former MEP Patricia McKenna will be urging delegates to back the No campaign.
