The Green Party Parliamentary Party has voted in favour of a motion calling on party chairperson Hazel Chu to step aside from the role while she contests the Seanad elections.

Dublin's Lord Mayor is running as an Independent candidate after the Green Party Executive decided not to contest the elections.

The motion passed with the support of 11 of the party’s TDs and senators, with five voting against it.

The party’s Deputy Leader Catherine Martin signed Mayor Chu's nomination papers and is understood to have voted against tonight's motion.

A letter will now go to the party's Executive which will have the ultimate decision over whether she should step aside.

Mayor Chu has said she does not expect to win the election – but is running to increase diversity and gender balance on the ballot.