The then government parties of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats were in favour of a yes vote. Fine Gael, the main opposition party was also in favour of a yes vote. The Labour Party, like the French Socialist Party, was divided, with its parliamentary leadership supporting ratification but its youth wing calling for a rejection. The other left-wing parties were calling for a no vote, including Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party and the Socialist Workers Party. The Green Party was split on the text and a special convention to determine its position was called off after the Dutch and French 'no' votes.
