Eamon Ryan

Eamon Michael Ryan (born 28 July 1963) is an Irish Green Party politician who has served as Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport since June 2020 and Leader of the Green Party since May 2011. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Bay South constituency since 2016, and previously from 2002 to 2011 for the Dublin South constituency. He previously served as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2007 to 2011.[1][2]

Eamon Ryan TD
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 June 2020
Taoiseach	Micheál Martin
Preceded by	Richard Bruton
Minister for Transport
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 June 2020
Taoiseach	Micheál Martin
Preceded by	Shane Ross
Leader of the Green Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 May 2011
Deputy	Catherine Martin
Preceded by	John Gormley
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
In office 14 June 2007 – 23 January 2011
Taoiseach	Bertie Ahern Brian Cowen
Preceded by	Noel Dempsey
Succeeded by	Pat Carey
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office February 2016
Constituency	Dublin Bay South
In office May 2002 – February 2011
Constituency	Dublin South
Personal details
Born	Eamon Michael Ryan 28 July 1963 Dundrum, Dublin, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Green Party
Spouse(s)	Victoria White ​ (m. 1998)​
Children	4
Education	Gonzaga College
Alma mater	University College Dublin
Website	eamonryan.ie

Early and personal life

Ryan was born in Dublin in 1963 and raised in Dundrum, where he continues to live with his family. He was educated at Gonzaga College, a fee-paying school and University College Dublin, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He was manager of the UCD Marketing Development Programme from 1985 to 1986, and following three years of emigration and unemployment in 1989, he founded Cycling Safaris, a company which organises cycling holidays in Ireland and Europe.[3] He married the author and journalist Victoria White in 1998 and they have four children.[4][5]

Political career

He first became involved in politics in 1998, when he was co-opted to Dublin City Council, taking up the seat previously held by John Gormley.[5] He topped the poll at the 1999 local elections in the Rathmines local electoral area. From 1995 to 2002, he served on the advisory committee of the Dublin Transport Office. At the 2002 general election, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Green Party TD for the Dublin South constituency.[6] He served as Green Party Spokesperson for Transport, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Communications, Marine and Natural Resources during the 29th Dáil.

He announced on 13 September 2004, that he intended to seek his party's nomination to be a candidate in the 2004 presidential election. However, when it was announced that the incumbent, Mary McAleese, was seeking a second term he withdrew. His campaign was also hit by his admission of cannabis use, an illegal drug.[7]

Government: 2007–2011

Ryan in 2007

He was re-elected to the Dáil at the 2007 general election held on 24 May. On 13 June, the Green Party voted in favour of entering into a coalition government with Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats at a special party convention. Ryan was appointed to the cabinet by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the 30th Dáil sat the following day.

As Minister, he stated his priorities would be to improve upon the changes underway in the Irish energy sector, with strong emphasis on aiding the adaptation of renewables and building retrofitting. He also aimed to enhance communications infrastructure where Ireland had fallen behind other countries. During his period in office, installed wind capacity in Ireland doubled, and by 2010 the average daily energy derived from renewable sources (as a percentage of total demand) had increased to 17%, peaking at 42%.[8][9][10] He also committed Ireland to the European Super Grid programme in 2009 and announced major government investment in marine energy research projects.[11] Government schemes were expanded for home energy retrofitting as uptake increased,[12] the National Broadband Scheme was completed,[13] a Broadband for Schools Scheme launched,[14] and a national electric vehicle and chargepoint initiative was announced in conjunction with the ESB Electric Ireland and Peugeot Citroën, which was subsequently implemented by the new government.[15][16]

In response to the Corrib gas controversy, the environmental activist organisation Shell to Sea and its spokesperson Maura Harrington, criticised Ryan for joining Fianna Fáil in coalition as the terms of the programme for government did not include a reversal or renegotiation of the proposed gas pipeline and refinery at Broadhaven Bay, County Mayo.[17][18] Before entering into government, Ryan supported the aims of the Shell to Sea campaign and attended their protests.[19] Ryan was also criticised by Shell to Sea for failing to launch an independent review of the decision, as stipulated by the Green Party in a motion passed at their annual convention in 2007.[20][21]

Ryan resigned as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on 23 January 2011, when the Green Party withdrew from government.[22] The following day he helped broker an agreement with Fine Gael and the Labour Party which ensured the passing of the 2011 Finance bill, prior to the holding of the general election on the 25 February 2011. He lost his seat at election, receiving 6.8% of the vote.[23] As part of his pension Ryan will receive a lump sum of €110,000 and an annual pension of €51,000 when he is 65, in 2028.[24][25][26]

Green Party leader in opposition: 2011–2020

He was one of three candidates to contest the subsequent Green Party leadership election of May 2011. He was elected leader on 27 May 2011, succeeding John Gormley.[27] The party had no representation in the Oireachtas when he became leader.

In 2012, he became an associate with E3G working on an assessment of the development potential of the North Seas Offshore Grid Initiative in a project which was supported by the European Climate Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. In 2013, he organised two climate gatherings which brought international climate experts to Ireland to examine what new narratives are needed to increase public support for action on the climate issue.

He was the Green Party candidate in the Dublin constituency at the 2014 European Parliament election, but was not elected. He was elected a TD for the Dublin Bay South constituency in the 2016 general election, alongside deputy leader Catherine Martin who secured a seat in Dublin Rathdown. The Greens' return to the Dáil following their wipeout in 2011 was the first time in Irish election history that a political party had been able to survive losing all their TDs.[28]

In 2019, Ryan called for wolves to be reintroduced to Ireland.[29] Fine Gael rejected this suggestion, with Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan responding that her department had no plans to reintroduce wolves into the country, saying that the "large predator" doing so would do damage to farming.[30] He reiterated the following January that he would like to see them introduced in his lifetime.[31] Also in 2019, comments he made on car use in rural Ireland which were published in an article by The Irish Times was criticised online. The newspaper also stated that Ryan suggested that a village of 300 people needs just 30 cars to operate. In the article, Ryan stated people could walk to a pick-up point or cycle. Responding to the article, the party took issue with the headline, and in a statement said the original headline ('"You don't need to own a car to live in rural Ireland" - Green Party T.D') had caused “a flood of online fury – and rightly so, because a suggestion like that would be ridiculous and impractical”.[32]

In 2020, the Green Party had its best election result in the general election of that year, with the party increasing its representation in the Dáil to 12 TDs.[33]

In March 2020, in a speech in a debate on responses to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, he made comments on growing food in the event of a supply crisis that went viral online, saying, "we'll have our salads ready to go!"[34] In June 2020, he was criticised online, particularly by Green Party councillors, for his use of the phrase "you nigger" when quoting director Sean Gallen on his experiences of racism.[35] Gallen himself said that Ryan's intentions were "really good" as he tried "to bring up this big issue of racism within an Irish context".[36] Ryan publicly apologised the same day as the speech.[37]

Government: 2020–present

On 27 June 2020, following 139 days of negotiations, the members of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party all voted in favour of entering government together as a coalition.[38][39] There had been concern that the proposal would not be accepted by the Green members, as the proposal required that it pass with 66% of the members in favour it.[40] However, in the end 76% of the Green Party membership voted in favour of the deal.[38] Irish Times writer Pat Leahy described the vote to enter government as "vindication" for Eamon Ryan's leadership of the party and suggested it would strengthen his hand in the subsequent Green Party leadership contest.[41] Green Party rules require a leadership election within 6 months of a general election in Ireland.[42] Ryan sought re-election, and Deputy Leader Catherine Martin also contested the position, leading to the 2020 Green Party leadership election.[43] Ryan was considered to represent the moderate "Old Guard" who were in favour of entering government while Martin was considered to represent younger, more radical Green party members apprehensive about working with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.[41]

On entering the government, Ryan was appointed as Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport.[44]

Ryan fell asleep in the Dáil during a vote on a motion on workers' rights, in which fellow TDs had to wake him up so he could vote.[45]

On 23 July 2020, Ryan was re-elected as Green Party leader, defeating deputy leader Catherine Martin by 994 votes (51.24%) to 946 (48.76%).[46]

References

1. "Eamon Ryan". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
2. "Dublin Bay South constituency". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
3. "About Eamon". Eamon Ryan. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
4. "About Cycling Safaris". cyclingsafaris.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
5. Humphreys, Joe (17 September 2004). "Thinking man's Green looks to the Park". Irish Times. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
6. "Eamon Ryan". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
7. "David Norris in Irish presidential campaign row". BBC News. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
8. "EirGrid Policy and Targets". EirGrid plc. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
9. "Energy in Ireland 1990–2009". Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
10. "EirGrid Annual Report 2010" (PDF). EirGrid plc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
11. Jha, Alok (3 January 2010). "Europe Unites Behind Renewable Energy Supergrid". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
12. "Retrofit Consultation". Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
13. "National Broadband Scheme". Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
14. "Schools broadband scheme unveiled". The Irish Times. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
15. "Irish Government and ESB sign new electric car deal with PSA Peugeot Citroën". ESB. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
16. "Minister Rabbitte launches Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme". Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
17. "Shell to Sea challenge Ministers to dismantle illegal Shell pipeline". Shell to Sea. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
18. "Corrib gas protesters meet Ministers". Shell to Sea. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
19. "Ryan ministry is welcomed by Shell to Sea". Western People. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
20. "Greens urge Ryan to consider moving Corrib gas refinery". The Irish Times. 11 July 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
21. "Green Party General Election Manifesto 2007". Green Party. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
22. "Green Party withdraws from government". RTÉ News. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
23. "Dublin South election results". RTÉ News. 26 February 2011. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
24. "Outgoing TDs pensions" (PDF). The Irish Times. 5 March 2011.
25. "Written Answers – Pension Provisions". Dáil Éireann. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
26. "Pension Question" (PDF). RTÉ News. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 December 2013.
27. "Eamon Ryan elected Green Party leader". RTÉ News. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
28. "GREEN ON GREEN". The Phoenix. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
29. Correspondent, Harry McGee Political. "Greens call for wolves to be reintroduced to Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
30. "Fine Gael reject suggestion to reintroduce wolves into Ireland". JOE.ie. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
31. "Eamon Ryan restates his wish to see wolves reintroduced into Ireland in his lifetime". Extra.ie. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
32. Finn, Christina. "'We deeply regret the hurt this has caused': Eamon Ryan says he does not want to restrict cars in rural Ireland". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
33. McGrath, Dominic (10 February 2020). "Neither a ripple nor a wave - the Green Party's record-breaking election". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
34. "'We'll have our salads ready to go!' – Eamon Ryan proposes public grow their own food". independent. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
35. Cunningham, Paul (11 June 2020). "Eamon Ryan apologises for using 'racial slur' in Dáil". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
36. "Ryan's intentions 'good' despite 'misstep', says writer". 12 June 2020. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
37. Staines, Michael (11 June 2020). "Eamon Ryan apologies after using N-word during Dáil speech on racism | Newstalk". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
38. Lehane, Mícheál (26 June 2020). "FF, FG and Green Party agree historic coalition deal". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
39. Finn, Christina (26 June 2020). "It's a yes: FF, FG and Greens to enter coalition after members back government deal". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
40. Blaney, Ferghal (24 June 2020). "Green Party members bitterly divided on Government deal as members slam leadership".
41. Leahy, Pat. "Pat Leahy: Spectacular vindication for Eamon Ryan who coaxed and beseeched party over the line". Irish Times. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
42. Hurley, Sandra (23 July 2020). "Eamon Ryan wins Green Party leadership contest". RTÉ News. Retrieved 23 July 2020. The leadership contest was seen as controversial when it was announced during the Government formation talks in June. However, the party said that it was holding it because of its rules, which say any leadership contest must be held within six months of a general election.
43. Finn, Christina (6 June 2020). "Catherine Martin will challenge Eamon Ryan for the Green Party leadership". Retrieved 28 June 2020.
44. O'Halloran, Marie (27 June 2020). "Who is in the new Cabinet? Members in profile".
45. O'Connor, Rachael. "Green Party leader Eamon Ryan falls fast asleep in Dáil and has to be woken up". Irish Post.
46. Hurley, Sandra (23 July 2020). "Eamon Ryan wins Green Party leadership contest". RTÉ News. Retrieved 23 July 2020.

External links

• Official website
• Eamon Ryan's page on the Green Party website