Former Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna has claimed said the party’s support for the Lisbon Treaty will give the No campaign more credibility.
Green Party delegates voted yesterday by a narrow margin to back the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign, following a 214 to 107 result at a specially-called conference in Dublin.
Ms McKenna said the support "and backtrack on its long standing campaign for a more democratic EU" would be "more of a hindrance than a help" to the Yes side. "The voters would currently not buy a used car from the Green Party let alone a rejected treaty," she said.
Ms McKenna accused the party of committing a series of u-turns since entering Government. "The current leader of the party, John Gormley, voted against this treaty in its original form, the EU Constitution, when he as in opposition and nothing in the treaty has changed since," she said.
"The fact that the vote was so tight and almost the same as last time is an indication that even Green Party members have not been persuaded by the propaganda spin on Lisbon since the referendum."
Her comments were criticised by Green Party members, with European affairs spokeswoman Senator Deirdre de Búrca said she "disappointed but not unduly surprised" by them.
"Patricia McKenna left the Green Party some time ago. 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.
Senator Dan Boyle said today Ms McKenna was no longer a member of the Green Party and as such could not comment on the feelings of party members or the processes of the party.
Mr Gormley yesterday described the vote as "a great result" for the party that would allow it to "campaign vigorously" for a Yes result in the referendum to be put to the people on October 2nd.
Socialist Party MEP for Dublin Joe Higgins claimed the Greens had "totally capitulated to the economic and political establishment" with its support of Lisbon.
"The last tiny vestige of independence manifested in last year's Green Party conference vote not to formally endorse Lisbon is buried along with the party's formal policies on so many other issues," Mr Higgins said.
He said the Greens have "betrayed" their former anti-war stance while in Government.
Under the Green Party's rules, major decisions require a two-thirds majority to become party policy. Two members spoiled their votes, it emerged later. Two years ago, the Green leadership failed to persuade delegates to let the party campaign formally in favour of a Yes vote when they met at a conference in the Mansion House.
Mr Gormley yesterday acknowledged that the result was close in the other direction. "It was extremely close, but I am obviously extremely pleased. It could not have been closer," he told journalists.
During the meeting - which was held in private - Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan made a passionate appeal to party members to back Lisbon, "for the sake of all of us, and of our children".