Eamon Ryan exit reignites speculation on pre-Christmas general election
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Speculation is mounting regarding a pre-Christmas general election after Eamon Ryan announced he was stepping down as leader of the Green Party.
Mr Ryan had been a strong proponent of the Government lasting its full term until the spring, but on Tuesday confirmed plans to step aside from the leadership of the smallest party in the coalition.
He said that he could no longer "work the long hours" that being a public representative involves and that he has "parenting commitments at home which I also want to serve".
Mr Ryan has signalled his intention to remain in cabinet as minister for transport, environment, climate, and communications, but accepted that his position would be decided by his replacement.
He hit out at the "divisive politics" which he said had "poisoned the well" in Irish discourse, adding that online comments had targeted his deceased father.
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The Dublin Bay South TD said: "It seemed, at times, that we were subject to coordinated attacks in the comments section following any post we made.
"I decided to ignore the worst comments, even when it included vile statements about my own recently deceased father.
Having been elected to the Dáil in 2002, Mr Ryan became minister for communications, energy and natural resources in 2007 in the coalition with Fianna Fáil, losing his seat in 2011, but regaining it in 2016 and topping the poll in Dublin Bay South in 2020, where he led 12 Green TDs into a coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Among Fine Gael members on Tuesday, there was a growing belief that Mr Ryan's departure made an election pre-Christmas more likely, the outgoing Green Party leader being one of the most strong proponents of the Government lasting until next March.
However, in his tribute to Mr Ryan, Taoiseach Simon Harris seemed to head off that speculation, saying that the Government's work will carry on and the programme for government between the coalition parties will continue to be implemented.
"We have much work to do," he said.
Likewise, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that the Government was "determined" to go until next March.
The departure of Mr Ryan will begin a second coalition leadership contest in just three months, with details of the election expected to be announced on Wednesday.
In a surprise move, the party's deputy leader, Arts Minister Catherine Martin, ruled herself out of the contest to replace Mr Ryan.
In a post on Instagram paying tribute to Eamon Ryan, Ms Martin said that her current focus is on her ministerial portfolio.
It is expected that Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman will be a front-runner for the leadership, though it is understood that super-junior minister Senator Pippa Hackett could signal her intent to run this week.
Junior Minister Joe O'Brien did not rule out a tilt at the leadership, telling RTÉ's : "I'm going over on it", with sources saying that he will consider a run.
Sources said that Mr O'Brien has a rural farming background and would be "exactly the direction" the party needs.
Junior Minister Malcolm Noonan told RTÉ's that he would not seek the leadership, saying that he wanted to continue to prioritise his own biodiversity portfolio.
Dublin Central TD Neasa Hourigan also ruled herself out of the running for the Green Party leadership, saying that she feels the next leader needs to be a member of the Cabinet.