The so-called "technical resolution" for the Green Party convention to decide policy on the Lisbon Treaty for EU reform on January 19th is now in doubt and the party may opt for a straightforward Yes or No vote.
A two-thirds majority vote of members attending the convention is required to adopt a policy for or against the Lisbon Treaty.
However, given the Eurosceptic history of the Greens and the strong opposition of former Dublin MEP Patricia McKenna, a two-thirds majority in favour of Lisbon cannot be taken for granted.
With that in mind, the "technical resolution" was drafted, after consulting legal advice, to protect the position of Green Party Ministers and the stability of the Government.
The motion, also requiring a two-thirds majority, recognised that "with the signing of the Lisbon Treaty by An Taoiseach on behalf of the Irish Government on December 13th, 2007, Green Party Ministers are obliged by virtue of collective Cabinet responsibility to facilitate ratification of this treaty, and that Green Party members of the Oireachtas are similarly obligated to bring through the Dáil and Seanad a referendum Bill that will allow this question to be constitutionally determined by the people".
However, there has been much negative reaction to this proposal, seen by critics as a "fudge" or "cop-out", and it has now emerged that, in discussions on procedure at the start of the convention, members may decide to dispense with it.
In another sign of nervousness, plans to admit the media for almost the full debate, except the final vote, have now been shelved and reporters will be provided with much more limited access.
Contrary to expectations, a meeting of the Green parliamentary party yesterday did not issue a recommendation to members as to how they should vote at the convention.
Minister of State for Food and Horticulture and former party leader Trevor Sargent said afterwards he would be withholding comment on the treaty until his address to the convention.
"I'm going to say it to the members, not to The Irish Times," he said.
Minister for the Evironment and Green Party leader John Gormley has, meanwhile, been accused by Eurosceptic campaigner Anthony Coughlan of "a major volte-face" on the treaty.
Mr Coughlan said "when John Gormley was a member of Giscard d'Estaing's Convention on the Future of Europe, which drew up the EU constitution, he joined with some other EU-critical members to oppose the constitution and presented an alternative 'minority report' to Giscard at its end.
"If he is now going to support the EU constitution in the revamped form of the Lisbon Treaty, it is truly a major volte-face".
The report, entitled The Europe of Democracies, was also signed by leading Eurosceptics such as Danish MEP Jens-Peter Bonde and British Conservative MP David Heathcoat-Amory.
Mr Gormley said: "I signed that report to help force an EU-wide vote on the constitution. It is a view I still hold. When the EU reform treaty was concluded I said it should be decided by the Green Party membership at a special convention. It will be the first time that the Green Party has considered this issue."
Meanwhile, Senator Deirdre de Burca has told Fine Gael TD Simon Coveney to stop interfering in the internal affairs of the Green Party. The Cork South Central TD had said the Greens should "either agree a clear position in favour of the Lisbon Treaty or else pull out of Government".
"The Greens never shirk from the opportunity to have a full and open debate," said Ms de Burca.
"Fine Gael, on the other hand, who give their members no say in how their policies are decided, are now trying to prejudge the outcome of our conference."
