Close call but Greens are go for Lisbon II
Gormley pledges vigorous campaign despite criticism
Joy for some, disillusionment for others, at the Green Party convention after the vote to support a 'Yes' vote in the second Lisbon Treaty referendum
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GREEN Party leader John Gormley has promised that his party will campaign "vigorously" for the Lisbon Treaty after getting the backing of members.
The party's requirement to achieve a two-thirds majority on the issue was achieved by the narrowest of margins, with 66.66pc of the 323 members present voting in favour of supporting the treaty.
Mr Gormley said he was pleased with the vote at the special convention in Dublin, despite the "extremely close" nature of the outcome.
"As a result, now we can campaign vigorously along with other European Green parties in favour of a 'Yes' vote. I think perhaps it's starting off the Lisbon campaign on a good footing because it would have been regrettable had we not got the two thirds majority," he said.
Majority
Last year, the Green Party fell short of getting the two-thirds majority to back the Lisbon Treaty in advance of the first referendum, with just 63pc of members in favour. This meant it took a neutral position during the campaign.
The result at Saturday's convention means that the Green Party will now be officially backing a European Treaty in a referendum for the first time since it was set up in 1987.
Communications Minister Eamon Ryan, who was one of the three nominated speakers on the 'Yes' side, was credited by members as having an influence on the successful outcome. The party was careful to point out afterwards that it respected the contributions of those who had advocated a 'No' vote.
But the Greens came under fire from their former Dublin MEP Patricia McKenna, who left the party last May due to her concerns about its performance in government.
"This is just one of a long line of U-turns, including Shell to Sea, Shannon, incineration, Tara and education cuts, preformed by the Greens since entering government," she said.
But Green Party members such as Senator Deirdre de Burca moved to dismiss Ms McKenna's comments by pointing out that she was no longer a party member.
"When she made that decision she lost the right to criticise the internal debates and procedures of an organisation to which she no longer belongs. Perhaps it is time for her to move on and concentrate on her own career," she said.
Ms de Burca, who failed to win a seat for the Greens in the Dublin Euro constituency, said the Lisbon vote had restored her faith in the Green Party.
"I am glad we have come out as a party that is very strongly pro-European, that is supporting the Lisbon Treaty and that will campaign to make the European Union stronger and more democratic," she said.
- Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
