THE GREEN Party’s former minister for energy Eamon Ryan and the party’s chairman Senator Dan Boyle are considered by colleagues as the front-runners to succeed John Gormley as party leader later this year.
Mr Gormley, in a letter to members this weekend, signalled that he would be stepping down as leader. His announcement came in advance of the party’s special meeting next Saturday to discuss its future, following a disastrous general election in which it failed to retain any of its six seats.
Of the three remaining senators, only Mr Boyle is standing in the elections for the Seanad at the end of April. But he accepted yesterday that getting elected would be a “long shot”.
In his e-mailed letter to party members, Mr Gormley said he had reflected on the situation and believed the party now had to reinvent itself. “This will necessitate a completely new leadership to take over after internal election dates have been agreed. In order to signal this new beginning, I will not be putting my name forward for any position. I will of course be available at all times to ensure a smooth transition to the new party structure,” he stated.
“The feeling amongst many party members I have spoken to is that we need to get back to our roots as a radical campaigning party. While this is the direction in which we will go, we cannot discard the very valuable experience we have gathered in opposition and in government.”
Both Mr Ryan and Mr Boyle said yesterday the question of leadership does not even arise at the moment and was unlikely to be dealt with until May at the earliest.
Both separately said the immediate issue was to assess the implications of the seat losses, as well as the party’s support falling to below 2 per cent, thus making it ineligible for any State funding.
“It’s completely premature to talk about the leadership issue now,” said Mr Boyle. “We need to assess where we are. There is oodles of talking to do. We do not even know about the leadership structure that will be put in place. That will be decided later.”
Under the party’s constitution, its leadership must be decided within six months of an election. The consensus among former Oireachtas members yesterday is that the question will be decided in May.
Senator Mark Deary from Louth also ruled himself out of the leadership race for now. His name has been mentioned because he is one of only three full county or city councillors the party has, along with Malcolm Noonan in Kilkenny and Brian Meaney in Clare.
Mr Deary said yesterday he would be concentrating on his business and did not believe a run at the leadership was feasible.
Mr Boyle said the challenge facing the party would be difficult and also signalled that the party would need to return to its roots.
All of its defeated TDs have said they are willing to stay involved with the party in the hope of rebuilding it. Some have suggested it is time to allow other members come to the forefront.
