NEVERGREEN
Why did Eamon Ryan quit as Green Party leader, who will replace him and what happens next?
One party member has confirmed he is running for the position
GREEN Party leader Eamon Ryan has announced he will be stepping down as party leader after 13 years.
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Transport made the announcement yesterday, leaving some big questions up in the air about the future of the Green Party.
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The stepping down of the party leader comes after a 25 year career span in politics.
After becoming leader in 2011 the politician turned the fate of the Green Party around, eventually leading them to holding 12 Dail seats a decade later.
However, the party saw disastrous results in recent elections with both their MEPs loosing their seats.
The number of local councillors also dropped from 49 to just 23.
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Speaking outside Leinster house yesterday Eamon Ryan announced his departure, cheered on by members of his party.
He said: " I'm here today to announce that I intend stepping down as the leader of the Green Party, Comhaontas Glas, and that I will not be standing in the next general election.
"I've spent the last 30 years either running for or holding public office as a councillor, TD and government minister.
"It's been an absolute privilege, and I want to thank the electorate who voted for me on eight different occasions over those years, giving me the opportunity to serve our city and our country to the best of my ability.
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"I'm stepping down to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders, confident in the strength and values I've seen built up in our party over all these years. Our policy will now elect a new leader to take the party forward from here and our own local group will now select a candidate to run in Dublin Bay South.
"I will continue as party leader and in my ministerial roles until a new leader is appointed, and look forward to fulfilling whatever role a new leader assigns me for the remaining terms of this government."
Why has he stepped down?
The 60-year-old has made the decision to step down to spend more time with his family.
The Dublin native has been married to his wife Victoria White since 1998 after meeting at set-dancing club Brooks Academy.
The couple share four children, one of whom is diagnosed with autism.
Eamon listed caring for his son Tommy who is in his 20s as part of the reason he is stepping down.
He said: "I cannot continue to work the long hours that being a public representative involves, which is why I am not standing again.
“I have parenting commitments at home which I also want to serve. We have a son with special needs who also requires my attention.
“My wife Victoria White has been my greatest support and inspiration. I want to also thank all my family and friends who have been at my side at all times.”
The Minster has said that poor recent election results have not impacted the decision to step down.
He explained: "For me it was a matter of picking the time and I felt several months ago that after the local and European elections that I would do it whatever the result.
“I think it gives time for a new leader to prepare for the next election in nine months’ time or whenever it is.
“It wasn’t driven by the results. We had mixed results in the European and local elections – we would be the first to admit it.
He continued: "It was a real loss in not seeing Ciaran (Cuffe) or Grace (O'Sullivan) or Pauline (O'Reilly) elected. And real loss in some of our great councillors in not holding their seats and others I would have loved to see elected.
“But we also did well in a number of places, we topped the poll in a number of constituencies.”
Who will replace him?
To become a candidate for the position a party member needs to secure 50 signatures from other members.
Minister for Children and Integration Roderic O'Gorman has been tipped to replace Eamon Ryan in the party leader position.
He has today confirmed he will be running for the prestigious position on X (formerly Twitter).
He said: "I'm announcing my candidacy for leadership of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas.
"I am running for leader, after 24 years of Green Party membership, to build a party that can win across this country, and deliver on our ambitions."
Minister of State, Joe O'Brien is also expected to put himself forward for the position.
Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement Ossian Smyth has confirmed he will not run himself, but would opt to run for deputy if Minister of State Pippa Hackett decides to run.
He told RTE: "If she is willing to run, I would like to run alongside her as deputy leader."
She has also been backed by Senator Pauline O'Reilly with both endorsements putting rural Ireland to the forefront.
Current Deputy leader Catherine Martin has confirmed she will not be gunning for the position and will be stepping back.
The politician, who has been in the Dail since 2016, went head to head with Eamon Ryan back in 2020 in the last party leader contest and came in second.
What happens next?
Each party follows different rules when it comes to selecting a party leader.
In the Green Party, being a TD or minister is not a requirement and any party member can run.
In the Green Party Constitution it states that after a party leader resigns an election will be called by the Executive Committee.
All party members can vote in this election and each vote gets an equal share despite rankings.
Whoever is elected will serve until after the next General Election which is expected to be held in March next year.
After this a new leadership election must be held within the party within six months, which would work out as before the end of September next year.
Candidates are expected to start announcing they are running from today with a three week leadership contest expected.
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