Catherine Martin to step down as deputy leader of Green Party and won’t contest battle to replace Eamon Ryan in top job

The Dublin Rathdown TD, who is currently in Miami, would have been the favourite to take over from Mr Ryan – but her announcement this evening has blown the contest wide open.

In a statement she sent “warm wishes and gratitude” to the outgoing leader who she described as “rightly regarded both in Ireland and well beyond as a trailblazing green leader”

“It has been an honour and privilege to work closely with him as Deputy Leader of the Green Party over the past 13 years, during which time we collaborated with our grassroots membership in rebuilding the party.”

Speaking about her decision not to seek the leadership, Ms Martin said her focus is on her ministerial portfolio and her constituency.

“I will continue to serve with pride the people of Dublin Rathdown in collaboration with our 3 Green Party Councillors in this constituency and I look forward to running there in the next General Election. “At this point in time, I will not be putting myself forward for the Leadership contest. I will also step back as Deputy Leader.”

The Green Party are preparing for a three-week leadership contest with at least two members of the parliamentary party preparing bids.

Green Party sources said the party’s executive have already discussed the programme for the campaign.

The three-week period will include time for nominations, hustings and ultimately a period of voting.

The party is anxious to expediate the process and return to the work of government.

There is speculation the candidates will include Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman and Junior Minister Ossian Smyth but there has been no confirmation from either TD. There is also speculation that Minister of State Pippa Hackett is preparing a leadership bid.

Meanwhile, outgoing Green Party leader Eamon Ryan’s spokesperson said he informed Ms Martin of his intention to step down in the last few months.

Mr Ryan announced he is stepping down as the leader of the Green Party to focus on his “parenting commitments at home”.

He will remain in his ministerial role until a new party leader is elected, but will not stand in the next general election.

Following a 30-year political career, Mr Ryan said he is “proud” of what the party achieved but acknowledged that a “narrative has taken hold” about the party and described the “relentless attack” it has been subjected to on social media.

He said he is stepping down to “pass the torch” to a new generation of leaders and paid tribute to his party colleagues, his staff and the civil servants he worked with.

Mr Ryan said he is proud of what the Green Party achieved in Government over the last four years, including the recognition of Palestine, work on renewable energy and climate justice, and looks forward to fulfilling whatever role the next party leader will assign him.

“One of my biggest regrets is that under my watch, a narrative has taken hold that we are not concerned about rural Ireland, that our solutions are costing people and we are not connected to the man and woman on the street. None of that do I believe to be true,” he said.

“Divisive politics will not work if we are to see the scale and speed of change that has to be made. Our approach is to start listening to people, ask for help instead of telling them what to do, admitting uncertainty in how the change might work best and speaking to the heart and not just the head.”

Speaking outside Government Buildings, Mr Ryan said the party seeks benefits for every community in the transition “we need to make”.

“Convincing people of that has not been easy, because we have also been the subject of a relentless attack – particularly on social media. It seems at times we were subjected to coordinated attacks in the comments section following any posts we’ve made. I’ve decided to ignore the worst comments, even when it included vile statements about my recently deceased father some five years ago.

“The level of invective has only increased, especially in the last year, and I think it poisons the well of public thinking about our agenda and not just our party.”

Mr Ryan said “you could despair about the future of our democracy if you were just to live in that algorithm driven, polarising, online world”.

“However, I am so hopeful about what is to come next.”

Mr Ryan said he cannot continue to work the long hours that being a public representative involves and decided to step down as he has “parenting commitments at home”.

“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 my family and friends who have been at my side at all times. I will do everything I can to protect the future success of our party.”

He made the decision “several months” ago that he would step down following the European and local elections “whatever the result”, he said.

Mr Ryan said his choice was not driven by the results of the local and European elections, though acknowledged that it was disappointing to not see Grace O’Sullivan and Ciaran Cuffe re-elected in Europe.

He said he would remain neutral throughout the upcoming contest for the party leadership, but once his successor is named then he will “back them to the hilt”.

Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute to Mr Ryan, describing him as a “genuine, passionate and inherently decent person”.

He continued: “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.”

Today’s News in 90 Seconds – June 18th