Tags: Cork, Green Party, Ireland, John Gormley, Lisbon Treaty, politics, referendum, vote

GREEN Party members today voted to campaign for a yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

Following a special conference in Dublin, where members also discussed the review of the Programme for Government, a two-thirds majority was reached in favour of the Treaty.

Out of a total valid poll of 321 two thirds of voters (214) voted yes while 107 voted no.

Green Party Leader and Environment Minister John Gormley said, “Today has been one filled with passionate debate. I am proud that the Green Party has reached this position and I am pleased that we can now go forward and fully support a yes in the referendum on October 2nd.

“Lisbon will empower European states to take real action on climate change, and I hope that the EU strengthened by the Lisbon Treaty can lead global efforts in this area at the UN conference in Copenhagen in December.

“I place a very great value on the diversity of opinion within our membership and I appreciate and understand the views of those who spoke and voted against the Lisbon Treaty today. The Green Party is the most democratic political party in Ireland, and of this we can all be proud,” he said.