There's been further division and unhappiness in the Green Party after councillor Hazel Chu secured a nomination to run in the upcoming Seanad by-elections.
Dublin's Lord Mayor is not an official party candidate, but secured the backing of 5 TDs including Deputy Party Leader Catherine Martin.
The Green Party Executive, which includes Hazel Chu as a member, had voted NOT to run a candidate in the upcoming Seanad by-elections.
It was well known in the party that Dublin's Lord Mayor had an interest in the nomination, but was accepted by most that as government partners they had agreed to a voting pact to ensure Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil candidates will win the two vacant seats.
The big surprise came when Mayor Chu managed to secure the nomination - with Deputy Party Leader Catherine Martin signing her papers.
Martin's Husband TD Francis Noel Duffy and her brother Senator Vincent P Martin also signed the papers - along with Hazel Chu's partner TD Patrick Costello and TD Neasa Hourigan.
There's been a private backlash from some members of the party and in a statement Green Party HQ said she is not an official candidate representing them.
Internally it's being seen by many as more undermining of the government by a group within the Greens that never supported going into government.
A number of councillors who would have contested a party convention, but stood down after the decision of the executive, are said to be furious at Hazel Chu's decision to run.
She will run as an independent candidate - and said it's important that women and minorities are represented in the election.
On the day the new climate bill is launched, it's very clear that the decision to enter government has left lasting divisions in the Green Party.
