John Downing: Eamon Ryan’s abrupt exit leaves troubled Greens facing tough internal leadership battle and Dáil succession problems

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan speaks to the media at Government Buildings today after he announced he is stepping down as party leader. Photo: Collins

John Downing

Cue a very divisive leadership election and a battle royale to hold the Dáil seat which was one of the Green Party’s few bankers.

The party’s departing leader, Eamon Ryan, had been talking privately for quite some time about wanting to call time on a 30-year career which twice brought him from the political fringe to the heart of government. Those close to Ryan insist the announcement was not a knee-jerk reaction to the recent local and European elections which brought losses, but nothing like the wipe-out predicted by some observers.