Eamon Ryan has announced he is stepping down as leader of the Green Party.
It is time to “pass the torch to a new generation of leaders”, he said during an emotional speech.
The Minister for the Environment made the announcement at a press conference following a Cabinet meeting in Dublin.
His party is one of the three Government coalition partners, and suffered a poor performance at the local and European elections earlier this month, which saw the Green Party lose both MEP seats.
The decision comes amid speculation of a potential early election in the autumn.
“I am stepping down to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders, confident in the strength and values I have seen built up in our party over all these years.”
After 13 years, @eamonryan announces his decision to step down as our Party Leader.https://t.co/HIy6pL9xag pic.twitter.com/HubQSsnDpq
— Green Party Ireland (@greenparty_ie) June 18, 2024
The minister, who has led the party since 2011, said it has been an “honour” to serve.
Mr Ryan confirmed he will not be standing in the next general election.
The 60-year-old will remain as Environment Minister, and said he believes the current Government can “go the full term”.
Speaking outside Leinster House, he said: “I’ve spent the last 30 years either running for or holding public office.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
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.”
The Green Party’s Grace O’Sullivan and Ciaran Cuffe missed out on a return to Brussels in the recent European election, and the party lost half its seats on local councils.
Government coalition parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael had positive elections, while the results of main opposition party Sinn Fein fell below expectations.
The results fuelled speculation that the Government may look to call a general election earlier than the current projected timeline of spring 2025.
Mr Ryan is the second coalition leader to resign this year.
In April, Leo Varadkar stepped down as Taoiseach and leader of the Fine Gael party.
His announcement came after a turbulent number of weeks for the Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Green Party coalition Government.
