Eamon Ryan announced today, Tuesday, June 18, that he is resigning as the leader of Ireland’s Green Party, one of the three parties making up Ireland's current coalition government.
"I'm here today to announce that I'm stepping down as the leader of The Green Party, Comhaontas Glas, and that I will not be standing in the next general election," Ryan said outside of Government Buildings in Dublin on Tuesday morning.
"I've spent the last 30 years either running for or holding public as a councillor, TD, and government minister. It's been an absolute privilege, and I want to thank the public who have 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.
"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 of these years.
"Our party 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'll 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."
Ryan said he is "confident" the current government will run its full term.
He continued: "I will continue to work on climate action, but in a different way.
"I cannot continue to work the long hours that being a public representative involves which is why I'm not standing in the next general election.
"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 thank her, and all of my family and friends, who have been at my side at all times.
"I look forward to supporting our new party leader, to see out our current mandate, and then returning to the people looking at them for what direction we take next.
"I look forward to it all."
As well as being leader of the Green Party, Ryan has been a Government leader and Minister for both the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Transport since 2020.
He is now the second coalition leader to step down this year following Leo Varadkar's resignation in March, which gave way to Simon Harris becoming leader of Fine Gael and now Taoiseach.
Responding to Ryan’s resignation, Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Tuesday: “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.
"The leadership of the Green Party is now a matter for the party’s members and rules.
"The Government’s work continues and the Programme for Government between the three coalition parties will continue to be implemented.
"We have much work to do."
Meanwhile, Tanaiste Micheál Martin, the head of the third party in Ireland's current coalition government Fianna Fáil, wished Ryan the best.
"Eamon is a man of integrity & commitment. We have a good relationship, both personally & professionally," Martin said in a post on X.
Wishing @EamonRyan the very best as he steps down as Green Party leader.
Eamon is a man of integrity & commitment. We have a good relationship, both personally & professionally.
He has always been consistent in his personal beliefs in terms of climate & biodiversity.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 18, 2024
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