De Búrca says No voters would be reluctant to join SF campaign

The Green Party yesterday hit back at what it claimed was interference by other political parties in its internal debate on the Lisbon Treaty.

Its spokeswoman on European affairs, Senator Deirdre de Búrca, defended the process that led to the leadership narrowly failing to secure two-thirds backing from the party membership for a Yes vote.

Ms de Búrca was responding to criticism from both the pro-Lisbon Treaty Labour Party - which chided the Green "dithering" over Europe as damaging to the referendum - and from Sinn Féin, which yesterday invited the minority No camp in the Green Party to join its anti-treaty campaign.

Ms de Búrca said Green Party members who voted No to the treaty would be very reluctant to throw their lot in with Sinn Féin.

"Sinn Féin has failed to articulate a clear or positive vision for Europe. Coming from a party with a broad internationalist appeal and strong European roots, Green Party members are unlikely to be attracted by the narrow nationalism that underpins Sinn Féin's approach to Europe."

Ms de Búrca was responding to Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald, who yesterday invited Greens seeking a No vote to join in the Sinn Féin campaign.

"Over a third of the Green Party's membership did not give the Lisbon Treaty the green light.

"Naturally, it is a matter for the party what decision it took.

" But I would call on those members who clearly believe that Ireland deserves better than the Lisbon Treaty to join the campaign to see it defeated."

Ms de Búrca's stance was supported by Martin Hogan, a Seanad candidate for the party, who argued for a No vote in Saturday's vote.

He said: "Irrespective of what position people adopt on the Lisbon Treaty, at least they have had a chance to express their views in an informed and open manner.

"What the Greens allow is more than can be said for any other political party in the Dáil."