Sharp differences on the Green Party's attitude to the European constitution emerged at a meeting of its European council in Dublin at the weekend.
The Green Party in the Republic is to decide next March on what stance it will take.
Its keynote speaker in the debate on Saturday, Wicklow county councillor Ms Deirdre de Búrca, declared her opposition to the constitution.
"There are many concerns about the constitution," she said.
"The reason given to us for putting a constitution together in the first place was to address the democratic deficit of the European Union. However, it does not do it in any meaningful way."
She said that while it gave some co-decision powers to the European Parliament, and allowed for the council of ministers to meet in public when legislating, the EU institutions would remain as undemocratic as they had been to date.
"One of the things we want to see happening is the European Parliament having the right to initiate legislation, like any other parliament," she said. "Currently, it is the unelected body, the Commission, which has that power."
Cllr de Búrca said the Green Party in the Republic also wanted greater powers for local and regional government.
"Effectively what this constitution is doing is transferring significant powers to the European institutions."
She said the constitution would end the formal military neutrality of states like Ireland, Malta and Austria.
"There is a very definite commitment to a common defence policy in the constitution."
Cllr de Búrca differed with the party's co-president in the European Parliament, Mr Daniel Cohn-Bendit, who strongly advocated a Yes vote. "It is a step forward, and closes a democratic gap which the EU had. It allows Europe to co-ordinate its policies in sensitive areas such as environment and social affairs," he said.
"It also allows Europe, in the field of foreign policy, to play its necessary role, as we see today in conflicts in Iran and Ukraine."
Mr Cohn-Bendit said he knew it was not a "Green treaty", but it would not be possible to find agreement on one acceptable to all strands of the party.
He hoped the Greens in Europe would take a majority decision. "The Green Party in Ireland will decide what it decides, and I do not want to force the issue," he said.
"But I would say that it is dangerous to assess the constitution solely from a national point of view. You have to have a European perspective."
The Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, said the party was trying to have an informed debate on the issue.
He expressed concern that money could be diverted from social services to defence.
"That would not be to the advantage of Irish people or, ultimately, in the interests of international peace either."
