Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has predicted his party can win over ten seats in the forthcoming general election and help form a coalition government.
However, he reiterated his earlier statement that he would resign his post if the party chose to enter a coalition with Fianna Fáil.
Speaking to reporters at the conference in Co Galway, Mr Sargent predicted that his party would build on the gains shown in the last Irish Times/tns MRBI opinion poll, which showed support for the Greens at eight per cent of the electorate - its highest-ever level.
The party trebled its seats from two to six in 2002.
"I feel that we are on an upward trajectory and with six at the moment, we really could get ten or beyond," he said. "It depends on the day. At the moment we're working to hold onto our seats and to increase that number."
The strongest candidates in the field of over 30 are believed to be Niall Ó Brolcháin in Galway West, Deirdre de Burca in Wicklow, Mary White in Carlow/Kilkenny, Brian Meaney in Clare and Patricia McKenna in Dublin Central.
Mr Sargent also insisted he would resign if the party chose to go into Government with Fianna Fáil, but added that he would like to serve as a minister in the administration. "It would be up to the party leader of the time to make those decisions but I'm ready to serve," he said. "I have been given a particular mandate and that's why I've said what I've said."
This afternoon, delegates at the ardfheis voted for a proposal to completely overhaul the "ill-conceived" decentralisation process if the Greens are elected to Government.
They also debated an €84 million plan to provide 2,400 extra teachers and reduce class sizes to a statutory maximum of 25.
The party also voted in favour of a ban on all political corporate donations and extend the power of the Standards in Public Office Commission to allow them to investigate ethical concerns at local government level.
Earlier, former MEP Ms McKenna told delegates during a debate on housing that Ireland was resembling the Philippines with its gated communities. "We need more social housing and a greater social mix. We don't want ghettos. We want people to live together," she said.
Former Green minister in Germany, Renate Kunast told delegates that Irish Greens can transform visionary ideas into practical government policies. The former Food and Agriculture Minster said her party helped create 170,000 new jobs in renewable energy projects while in power.
"Once the Greens are part of the Government, it will make Ireland a place where growth is environmentally and socially sustainable, where there is a strong focus on renewable energy, on saving and efficiency," she said. "Set a course for the future that is visionary and realistic at the same time."
Mr Sargent is expected to use tonight's televised leader's address to decry election promises and call for 'action' politics rather than 'auction' politics.
Later, personal finance guru Eddie Hobbs will speak on the impact of global oil prices on the pockets and purses of consumers.