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18th June 2024
11:57am BST
Eamon Ryan is set to step down as leader of the Green Party after 13 years in charge.
The decision has come after the Greens experienced big losses in the local and European elections this month, losing both its MEPs and losing 26 seats locally.
Succeeding John Gormley in May 2011, Ryan oversaw the 'Green Wave' during the 2019 local and European elections, where support for the party surged.
It is expected that Ryan will remain on as Minister for Environment and Transport in the interim, until the new party leader makes a decision.
WATCH: Eamon Ryan is stepping down as Green Party Leader. He made the announcement at Government Buildings. pic.twitter.com/KWfXmye2bj
— Virgin Media News (@VirginMediaNews) June 18, 2024
Ryan was first elected to the Dáil in 2002 and served as Minister for Communications from 2007 to 2011.
He went on to lose his Dáil seat in 2011 but was re-elected in 2016.
He has led the party since 2011 and retained the role after he defeated Catherine Martin in a leadership contest in 2020.
In a statement to the press, Mr Ryan said: “I have been in public life now for close to 30 years and I’ve loved every minute of it. Yesterday’s approval of the NRL at the Environment Council was another one of those memorable days when we said yes to protecting nature across Europe.
"However, as a leader, it is important to always know that there is a time to go and a time to pass things on to new talent.
"I will continue my lifelong campaigning for climate justice, but in a different way. I have worked 24/7 for many years in politics but am no longer in a position to do that because of family and parenting commitments.
"This is a decision I came to a while ago, but the time wasn’t quite right to announce it. We are into a new political cycle now.
"The local and European elections have been completed and while the next election won’t happen immediately, it is something that every party will be preparing for over the coming weeks and months.
"This is a good time to hand over to a new leader, who can bring a new perspective, and new way of doing things to the job."
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