The former Chair of the Green Party believes it was a mistake for the party to endorse Independent Catherine Connolly for the Presidential election campaign.
Galway-based Pauline O'Reilly - who was chair of the Green Party until May and served as a senator up until January of this year - will reluctantly vote for Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys in the election, saying she has more in common with her on foreign policy issues.
The Green Party is endorsing Ms Connolly for the election alongside Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, the 100% Redress Party and Sinn Féin.
However, former Green Party TD Brian Leddin today announced his resignation from the party, telling The Irish Times he didn't agree with party leader Roderic O'Gorman backing a candidate "of the far left".
"I think it's a mistake to back a candidate and not know what they're going to say," said Ms O'Reilly to RTÉ's Drivetime.
"There was no need to back a candidate unless you were going to run a candidate. I think that would have been the best thing but I'm not the leader of the party, Roderic O'Gorman is. I wouldn't have made that decision myself.
"It's a mistake by the party and I certainly won't be telling people how to vote in this election," she added.
Ms O'Reilly also confirmed her intention to vote for Ms Humphreys, rather than the candidate backed by her party.
When asked if she would follow Labour Alan Kelly's lead and "reluctantly" vote for Ms Humphreys, Ms O'Reilly responded: "Very similar to Alan Kelly. I've huge respect for Heather Humphreys. She would do a good job on the diplomatic front. We have differences in policies but I don't think they extend to foreign affairs."
Ms O'Reilly contested against Ms Connolly in General Elections in Galway West in 2020 and 2024, but might be in line for a run should Ms Connolly be successful on 24 October and trigger a Dáil by-election in Galway West.
