Former MEP Patricia McKenna said Green Party ministers should remain in Government, despite its failure to secure a two-thirds majority in favour of the Lisbon Treaty.
Ms McKenna, who is a strong supporter of a No vote in the referendum, said the outcome of Saturday's closed delegate conference had nothing to do with the party's participation in Government.
"That was made very clear throughout the entire debate. Everybody, including myself, agrees that our ministers are doing their best in pushing the Green agenda."
Ms McKenna said the result of the vote would give the party's ministers a much stronger hand in Cabinet. "They can go now to Cabinet and say that they have party members to consider and that they are no pushover. Members make decisions based on their own conscience, as they have done today."
Ms McKenna also predicted that the outcome would restore the public's confidence in the party. "It shows that we are not willing to lie down and do what the more powerful parties want us to do. "
She said she would actively canvass for a No vote. "It is not a question of being anti-European. We want a better Europe for the people."
Bray town councillor Caroline Burrell, who supports the treaty, said the failure to secure the required majority was predictable. She added that she would not be canvassing during the referendum.
"I do not think it is up to me to tell other people how to vote."
David Grey, Kerry North, said he was neutral on the issue.
"I voted against us having a position on the matter because I think that individual party members should decide.
"When I spoke, I asked my fellow delegates if they had read the treaty and fully understood its ramifications. One person put up a hand.
"I think the treaty is deliberately dressed up in a manner which makes it hard to understand."
John Walsh, Galway, said the result showed the party remained close to its traditional position on the EU.
"I agreed to support a Yes vote after taking a long time to reach a decision. I could clearly see both sides. The issue which influenced me was the charter on fundamental rights being incorporated into the treaty and the citizens' petition, initiated by John Gormley."
Breandán Mac Gabhann, Galway, said he had spoken against the treaty.
"I think that we have emerged with the best situation for the party. Having listened to all the speakers, it was very obvious that most people are pro-European and those opposing the treaty believe that it did not make the EU democratic enough."
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Nessa Childers, who supports the treaty, said that the party was democratic, with independent thinkers.
"We all voted in accordance with what we really felt about the treaty."
Paddy Quinn, Dublin South, who had supported the No motion, said he would have been disappointed if the party leadership had secured the required two-thirds majority.
"The core issue relates to democracy, and the fact is that nearly 500 million people in Europe did not have a chance to say Yes or No.
"It is nonsense to say that we will be the laughing stock of Europe if there is a No vote in the referendum here.
"Democracy was threatened in Europe in the 1930s and we stood idly by at that time. Now we have a chance to give a voice to people who do not have one on the referendum issue."
