Ryan steps down as Green leader

Eamon Ryan has stepped down as leader of the Green Party having served in the role since 2011.

In addition, Ryan confirmed he will not contend the next general election in Dublin Bay South.

In a speech outside Leinster House, Ryan said he was stepping down to “pass the torch to a new generation of green leaders.”

Ryan was first elected in the 2002 general election before losing his seat in the 2011 general election.

Following electoral success in 2007, Ryan was part of the ultimately ill-fated Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats coalition in which he served as Minister for Communications.

After assuming control of the Greens following their 2011 electoral wipeout, he won his seat back in 2016, and led them back into coalition in 2020 following the most successful general election in Green history.

A leadership challenge took place in 2020, with Ryan narrowly holding onto his position by 48 votes against challenger Catherine Martin.

The Greens stint in coalition was rejected by voters on June 7th, when the party lost their 2 MEPs and lost half of their council seats nationwide.

Ryan is expected to remain in his ministerial role for the time being, but will likely be replaced after the new leader takes over.

In Dublin, the Greens were wiped out on Fingal and South Dublin County Council, and lost 2 seats on Dublin City Council.

Ciáran Cuffe was the most high-profile Green causality, losing his European seat after losing half of his first preferences compared to his 2019 vote share.

Ryan will continue in his position as Minister for Transport until a new Green leader is elected.

Deputy leader Catherine Martin also announced her resignation from the position on Tuesday and will not be running to succeed Ryan.

He expressed confidence that the current government will last the full term until March 2025, by which a general election must be called.

Ryan’s resignation marks the second coalition leader to resign within 3 months, following on from Leo Varadkar’s surprise resignation as leader of Fine Gael and as Taoiseach in March.

Taoiseach Simon Haris said “Minister Eamon Ryan yesterday informed me of his decision to resign his leadership of the Green Party.”

“Eamon is a politician of enormous standing and I want to pay tribute to him and his family for everything they have given Irish politics through his leadership of the greens. I respect and understand his decision.”

“Eamon is a genuine, passionate and inherently decent person who brings those same qualities to politics”, adding “the leadership of the Green Party is now a matter for the party’s members and rules.”