Eamon Ryan steps down as Green Party leader and will not contest general election

He said he is stepping down to "pass the torch to a new generation of leaders".

My Ryan's resignation comes on the back of a disappointing local election result for the Green Party, after they won just 23 seats. In 2019, the party had won 49 seats. The party also lost both of its MEPs - Ciarán Cuffe and Grace O'Sullivan - in the European Parliament elections.

In his speech, Mr Ryan thanked both his staff and Green Party councillors "old and new", saying that the party had ensured that "climate justice is at the heart" of what the Government has done.

He said he was "proud" of what the government has achieved between covid, public transport and environmental issues.

He added that "one of his biggest regrets" is that a narrative had "taken hold" that his party was "not concerned with rural Ireland". He said this was not true, but that convincing people otherwise was "not easy" due to an ongoing "relentless attack". He said this "invective" was "poisoning the well" of public discourse.

However, he said he is "so hopeful" about what is to come next for Ireland. He said he was "inspired" by the 131 Green Party candidates of the recent local elections.

He said that he "cannot continue to work the long hours" of a public representative and that he has "parenting responsibilities" at home and a son with special needs who "needs my attention".

He said that it was "an honour" to work at Government Buildings.

Mr Ryan said that he had been thinking about his next steps "for some time" but that his decision was not down to the local and European elections.

While he would "love to have" run again, his family responsibilities meant this was not possible. He added that it would "not be fair" to his family to continue on in politics.

The outgoing leader said he had not been approached by anyone within the party about his future, saying he has known "for quite some time" that he would not carry on.

He said he would like to continue in Cabinet, but that would be a decision for the next leader.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has paid tribute to the outgoing Green Party leader calling him a genuine, passionate and inherently decent person.

Mr Harris was informed of Mr Ryan's decision to step down as leader on Monday.

"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," Mr Harris said following the official announcement from Mr Ryan.

The Taoiseach would not be drawn on speculation about Mr Ryan's successor saying it is a matter for Green Party members.

He seemed to address mounting speculation about a snap election saying that the government's work will continue and the programme for government between the coalition parties will continue to be implemented.

"We have much work to do," he said.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin paid tribute to his fellow coalition leader, saying the two had a warm relationship.

He said that the Programme for Government had become a "watershed" one in terms of Ireland's approach to climate and biodiversity. He said that Mr Ryan was key to that.

Mr Martin played down the idea that the loss of a second coalition leader meant that the government would not run its term until next March. He said that the Government is "determined" to go to March.

Asked if he regretted that part of the backlash against the Greens had come from Fianna Fáil representatives in recent weeks, Mr Martin said that "things are often said in the heat of an election campaign" but that candidates should "reflect on the fluidity of transfers that we saw" in the recent elections

Within the party, sources said that the decision, while surprising, was "not entirely unexpected". 

He was first elected to the Dáil in 2002 and has been Green Party leader for the last 13 years. 

Roderic O’Gorman the frontrunner to replace Ryan 

Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman is the early frontrunner to replace Mr Ryan as leader. Mr O’Gorman and Media Minister Catherine Martin are seen as the most likely candidates.

Sources within the party have indicated that the next leader will likely be selected as part of efforts to boost their re-election chances, following a poor June election results.

One party source said Mr O’Gorman is seen as the “natural successor” to Mr Ryan.

Another party source said Mr O’Gorman and Ms Martin are the only “realistic” candidates for leader, due to their position at Cabinet. However, they said Senator Pauline O’Reilly would be a “dark horse” in any race.

Ms Martin previously contested the Green Party leadership in 2020, after the party entered government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Mr Ryan narrowly saw off Ms Martin’s challenge, taking 994 votes compared to her 946 votes.

However, some in the party believe that Ms Martin will face difficulties in winning over the party base, following her handing of the recent RTÉ controversy.

Under current Green Party rules, any member of the party is permitted to run if they receive 50 nominations.