Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley seemed to indicate at the weekend that he would like his party to support the EU Reform Treaty which will be put to a referendum next year.
A decision to support the treaty would mark a decisive shift in the party's attitude to the EU as it has campaigned for a "No" vote in every referendum campaign over the past 20 years.
"We have always been a pro-European party - despite the worst efforts [ by] some rivals to traduce our critical and sometimes dissonant approach to the issue," Mr Gormley said in a speech to party members on Saturday.
"We recognise the invaluable contribution the EU has made to Irish life and we note especially its role in improving environmental law in this country. In the coming weeks you will receive information on the EU Reform Treaty - so let the debate commence," he said.
Mr Gormley said that engagement in Government had brought new challenges for the party and there was a recognition that it needed to change the way certain things were done.
"Now more than ever we need to be innovative in our approach to organisational matters. We also need to be disciplined."
He added that the party was opening an internal dialogue on the new EU Reform Treaty as it was expected that the 27 EU heads of government will informally agree the document on October 19th.
"This internal dialogue is an opportunity for the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas to show we do things differently and better . . . But our dialogue must also be dignified and respectful of colleagues and the party many of us have all served for a long time."
Mr Gormley said that as party leader he had visited quite a number of constituencies around the country. "And let me tell you that - despite the bogus claims of the Opposition - the reaction of the people to the Greens in Government has been very positive.
"People know we have displayed leadership and courage. They know we're in Government to achieve key goals and that we will not be deflected by the gamesmanship of the opposition," he said.
He insisted that the party had got a very good deal in its coalition negotiations in June.
"We have secured three important Government posts which will help this party pursue its key aims of tackling climate change by dramatically cutting carbon emissions, improving energy-supply security, advancing democratic reforms . . . to improve real quality of life and other important goals."
Mr Gormley said that while the party's Ministers have been busy working in Government, they had by no means neglected party matters and they recognised the need to regear and redirect the considerable energy, expertise and idealism of its members and supporters.
"Perhaps the simplest single fact, which gives the lie to our critics' calumnies, is that we are a party which is growing in membership," he said
"Green Party/Comhaontas Glas is no longer a small party, we are an emerging party strongly engaged in every facet of Irish political life.
"And we are an All-Ireland party organising in the North as well as in the Republic."
