A former Green Party councillor says many of the party's TDs will likely lose their seats in the next election if the party doesn't 'stand up' for the Green agenda.
South Dublin County Councillor Peter Kavanagh resigned from the party earlier this week.
He became the latest of several prominent members to leave the Greens since they entered Government last year.
The SDCC councillor said he never made his opposition to the programme for government a secret, but his opposition was met with "a culture I cannot reconcile with the values" of the party.
I've taken the very difficult decision to step down as Urlabhraí na Gaeilge & Gnóthaí Gaeltachta and resign from the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas with immediate effect.
I have never made my opposition to the Programme for Government a secret, having spoken against it... 1/2— Cllr. Peter Kavanagh (@TheKavOfficial) January 25, 2021
The Greens currently have 12 TDs in the Dáil, after their strong performance in the general election in January 2020.
However, Councillor Kavanagh says some of those TDs may not have a future in national politics if the party doesn't change its approach.
Speaking to Cuán Ó Flatharta on Newstalk's Irish-language show Splanc, Councillor Kavanagh said he is worried about the future of his former party.
He said: "There is no doubt that I am worried about them. It looks to me that the party doesn’t have a strategy outside of this Government.
"Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael both have strategies, they are always looking to enforce their own identities outside of this Government. If the Green Party does not do that, there might be two of them after the next election."
Councillor Kavanagh said the situation is very difficult for him as he's put so many years into the party.
He observed: "I have great friends who are TDs who are making great strides for their constituencies.
"But if the party isn’t happy to stand up and show where the Green agenda is happening within this Government, I don’t think many of them have a future as national politicians."
