Public vote ‘plays into hands’ of Yes campaign

THE Green Party’s most vocal opponent of the European Reform Treaty last night claimed the absence of a private ballot would result in an overwhelming majority for the Yes campaign.

Former MEP, Patricia McKenna, said the decision to hold a public vote, as opposed to a private ballot, at today’s special convention in Dublin was of serious concern.

“The two-thirds majority on the first motion for a Yes vote can be achieved by virtue of the fact that the parliamentary party has issued a public statement on how they want it to go,” she said.

“Taking into account that there is only going to be a public vote, it’s almost impossible for people to vote without feeling like they are casting doubt on the leadership. It’s going to be one of the deciding factors. Had there been a secret vote, people could have voted without feeling they were betraying anyone,” she added.

But a party spokesman said because there are three motions to be voted on, it would not be practical to hold a private ballot. The Yes campaign received a significant boost yesterday when party founder, Christopher Fettes, publicly backed its campaign.

In an open letter to party members ahead of today’s special convention, Mr Fettes conceded he still has doubts about whether the Irish people did the right thing in sacrificing sovereignty by endorsing projects like the euro. But he said these decisions have been taken and it is time to move on.

“An atmosphere of trust is our best hope that the EU will work in the best interests of all and not just those within the Union,” he said.

He said the EU still involves decisions not always in Ireland’s best interests. “But Ireland has benefited so extensively from EU supports since we joined that it ill becomes us to take too selfish a line today. My intention is to vote in favour of the Treaty, on the grounds that not to do so would be to diminish the trust between member states,” he said.

Green debate: How the party will decide on the treaty

Q:

Why is the Green Party the only party meeting to decide its stance on the European

Reform Treaty?

A: Since 1987, the Green Party has opposed every

European Treaty which proposed enlargement of the union and an increase in its

powers. For those 10 years, the party had consistently argued that enlargement

would erode and dilute Ireland's neutrality while increasing the union's defence

and military strengths.

Q: What are the arguments from the Yes and

No camps?

A: Former MEP Patricia McKenna will lead the No camp in

its opposition to the Lisbon Treaty on the grounds that it will result in the

further militarisation of the EU, provide greater powers to bigger member states

and centralise power without "true democratic accountability".

The

Yes camp will try to make great play of the successes of the EU in providing employment,

equality legislation and environmental protection.

Q: Who is entitled

to vote?

A: Since entering government, the party's membership has

increased by a third to 2,100 members. However, only 1,400 will be entitled to

vote today due to the stipulation that members must be registered for at least

six months before being allowed cast a vote.

Q: What are the consequences

of the result?

A: In the event that the party fails to obtain a majority

vote on the Yes motion, it is highly possible that individual members could canvass

for a No vote while their leadership publicly supports a Yes vote. This would

be embarrassing for the Green leadership and raise questions about their relationship

with Fianna Fáil.