Green Party Senator Vincent P Martin says it is obvious that his support lies with Catherine Martin in the Green Party leadership contest.
Election hustings in the leadership race will take place online next week.
Mr Martin, who is from Carrickmacross and is the brother of Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin, said his own appointment to the Seanad came as a "surprise".
He says Eamon Ryan is a good man and a good leader and added that the Green Party leader and Catherine Martin "get on well".
He told the Joe Finnegan Show that he may take a backseat in the election campaign due to his "obvious" loyalties: