THE GREEN Party will campaign ‘‘vigorously’’ for a Yes vote in the October Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign, party leader John Gormley has said.
On Saturday, the party leadership carried the vote at a specially-convened conference, when they secured exactly the two-thirds margin required for major decisions.
In all, 323 people voted, but two spoilt their ballots. Two hundred and fourteen voted Yes, while 107 opposed backing the treaty.
The decision will come as a boost for the Government’s hopes to win the crucial referendum battle, and marks the first time the Greens will campaign in favour of a Yes vote.
‘‘It was extremely close, but I am obviously extremely pleased. It could not have been closer. The two-thirds rule imposes a major obstacle on us in many ways, but it also means that the vast majority of the party are in favour of a policy direction. I believe it is a good rule,’’ said Mr Gormley.
‘‘I think perhaps it is starting off the Lisbon campaign on a good footing. I think it would have been regrettable if we had not got the two-thirds majority,’’ he said.
The party leadership’s job of persuading members – which they failed to do for the first Lisbon campaign – has been eased by the departure from the party’s ranks of ex-Green MEP, Patricia McKenna.
Two motions, including the one accepted, were put to the party. Counting on the other motion – which urged the party to oppose Lisbon – stopped when more than one-third of delegates had voted against it.
However, former Dublin councillor, Tony McDermott complained that delegates should have been able to recommend that the party stay neutral in the campaign ahead.
''I think it is perfectly legitimate for a political party to maintain neutrality, rather than taking a stance that will alienate some groups,'' he told The Irish Times.
He added senior party figures had ‘‘done a good job of ringing around’’ in the last few days ‘‘to make sure that there was a good turn-out.’’
Speaking after the vote, Mr Gormley acknowledged the genuine concern of those opposed to Lisbon. ‘‘The strength of this party is that we value our members’ views. It is the diversity of views within this party that makes us strong.’’
Senator Déirdre de Búrca said the vote showed that ‘‘although a proportion of our membership is still very concerned about the shortcomings of the European Union – and the Lisbon Treaty, a considerable majority of members recognise the EU’s considerable achievements and the important international role it must and will play over the coming years in the areas of climate change, energy security and human rights.
‘‘I am happy that our party, for the first time, will campaign in favour of a European treaty . . .’’ she added.
The outcome of the vote led to sharp criticism from its former MEP, Ms McKenna, who had sought and failed to get a nomination to run for the party.
The party’s decision to ‘‘backtrack on its long standing campaign for a more democratic EU will be more of a hindrance than a help to the Yes side’’, she claimed.
‘‘The voters would currently not buy a used car from the Green Party let alone a rejected treaty. The party leadership has shown that once part of the so-called ‘accepted political establishment’ they turn their back on their principles,’’ she went on.
