Politics in Waterford will be weakened without a Green Party voice in the room.
That's the view of local Green Party TD Marc O Cathasaigh.
His comments come as local Green councillors failed to retain their seats, as did former MEP Grace O'Sullivan.
Reflecting on the newly elected council, O Cathasaigh said they are all strong, deserved elected members.
However, he added: "When you have a Green Party representative, or an environmentalist in the room, it changes the conversation. I'm not seeing who's going to be that voice now."
Looking back at the defeat of the Green Party locally and nationally, he said there is a job on the hands of the party now to improve communication with the public.
However, he also said that the Greens have become a scapegoat and 'an easy target' for the public to blame.
During canvassing ahead of the elections, he said Waterford Airport and the proposed windfarm were raised by the public as areas of concern.
Additionally, Tramore Bay's loss of the Blue Flag was also raised, something he said some people were blaming the Green Party for.
Commenting on the airport, he said it was impossible for anyone in government to pass the audited accounts within the timeframe the public hoped for, given the late nature of their submission.
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