A second member of Labour has resigned from the party in less than a week.

Labour Chairman Colm Keaveney says he can no longer go along with a political charade where the party promises one thing and then does another.

The Galway-East TD had already lost the party whip. He was elected as Chairperson of the Labour Party in April last year, having being elected to the Dáil in 2011.

This follows Dublin-West deputy Patrick Nulty who resigned from Labour last Friday.

The Labour Party Chief Whip Emmet Stagg has welcomed the move by Mr. Keaveney, saying "His latest resignation follows his departure from the Parliamentary Labour Party in December 2012, and his resignation of party membership in 2007".

"Since he resigned the Whip, he has consistently attacked Labour, thereby betraying the Party members who elected him as Chair" he added.

Colm Keaveney says he has taken the decision because he cannot defend cuts to vulnerable groups in society.

Dublin Mid-West Labour Party TD Robert Dowds is furious with Colm Keaveney.