Private Green vote on treaty

Whatever the result of tomorrow's Green Party special convention in Dublin on the Lisbon Treaty, there is no funding for a campaign…

Whatever the result of tomorrow's Green Party special convention in Dublin on the Lisbon Treaty, there is no funding for a campaign either for or against, according to a spokesman at Leinster House.

Three motions are due to go before the convention. Motion A supports the treaty, motion B is against, and motion C recognises that the party's Ministers "are obliged by virtue of collective Cabinet responsibility to facilitate ratification of this treaty" and acknowledges the right of individual members to dissent from official party policy.

A two-thirds vote either way is required for the adoption of an official stance for or against the Lisbon document.

Explaining why the discussion would be closed to the media, Senator Deirdre de Búrca said keeping the debate private was intended "to facilitate a full and frank debate".

Deaglán  De Bréadún

Deaglán De Bréadún

Deaglán De Bréadún, a former Irish Times journalist, is a contributor to the newspaper