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Sam Boal

Catherine Martin will give 'serious consideration' to contesting the Green Party leadership

While the party talks about entering government, it has another battle on its hands.

LAST UPDATE | 20 May 2020

DEPUTY GREEN PARTY leader Catherine Martin has said she will give “serious consideration” to contesting the Green Party leadership. 

In a statement she said any such leadership contest should not take place during government formation negotiations.

Four Green Party councillors wrote to Martin recently urging her to challenge Eamon Ryan for the leadership of the party.

Martin thanked party members who asked her to step forward, saying today that she would consider it over the coming days.

At the moment, her focus remains on the “crucial” government formation talks, she said.

Ryan and Martin were party allies in the last Dáil – they were the only two from their party elected, after all. With the Green Party getting a boost in February, it now holds 12 seats.

With growth comes differing viewpoints, and since there is now the prospect of the Green Party being tacked on to the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil coalition, divisions within the party have emerged.

These differences have mainly been seen between newly elected TDs and the old guard, like Ryan, about whether the coalition is a good idea.

The four Cork City and County councillors who want a change in leadership are Lorna Bogue, Oliver Moran, Colette Finn and Liam Quaide, who say that regardless of the outcome of government formation talks, they want a new leader.

In an interview with the Opinion Line on Cork’s 96FM, Councillor Bogue said it is not a question of the four councillors not having confidence in Ryan, and that there is going to be a leadership election and they are encouraging Martin to put her name forward.

Under Green Party rules, a vote to decide on who will be its leader must take place within six months of any general election.

“When people start looking at leadership elections people think it is all very House of Cards. It isn’t at all. It is actually just about having the best person for the role. I personally think Catherine has had a remarkable career,” said Bogue.

Ryan has already stated that he will be putting his name forward.

Since the cracks appeared, a number of Green Party TDs have rallied behind Ryan today, supporting his leadership.

Dublin West TD Roderic O’Gorman TD told RTÉ News today that he “looks forward to nominating Eamon Ryan” for leader, if there is a contest. He said he would give Ryan his Number One vote.

Carlow Kilkenny TD Malcolm Noonan, Waterford TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh, Wicklow TD Steven Mathews as well as Senator Pippa Hackett have all backed Ryan today.

Nominations for the leadership election will open on Tuesday.

Ballots will be sent to members at the beginning of July, with returns to be made by 22 July. The ballots will be counted on 23 July.

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    Mute Big bad bull
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    Dec 5th 2015, 8:45 AM

    It’s a day for the high stool I think..

    244
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    Mute Tony Stanley
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:42 AM

    I just laid a high stool….now it’s a low stool!

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    Mute Ian Gray
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    Dec 5th 2015, 8:44 AM

    Fluichy ar lá

    154
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    Mute DMcE
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:01 AM

    Journal, what’s with the file photo? Can’t you people point your phone out of the window and take a picture of the actual storm effects?

    151
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:08 AM

    The Jpurnal is based I Dublin and the worst of the storm is happening initially in the west of the country and they don’t have a camera with a two hundred mile zoom lens.

    103
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    Mute Niall Mulligan
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:10 AM

    They don’t have windows because you don’t click their ads. :(

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    Mute Leanne
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:12 AM

    @DMcE talk about looking for something to complain about! Can you not picture a storm in your head or look out your own window?

    69
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    Mute IrishStoner
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    Dec 5th 2015, 8:47 AM

    Dam the cliffs are closed.

    117
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    Mute Louise Ní Riain
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:14 AM

    Drove on m50 slow down people

    81
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    Mute OCallaghan TP
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:47 AM

    Today the council are out putting boiling tar into holes filled with water and throwing gravel on top.. its not going to stay .. why is this always done in the rain ???

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    Mute jane
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    Dec 5th 2015, 10:20 AM

    What idiot council is doing that?

    63
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    Mute SHANKSGHOST
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    Dec 5th 2015, 10:21 AM

    water conservation !

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    Mute Carina Clarke
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    Dec 5th 2015, 10:53 AM

    Have to spend the budget before the end of the year. Could do a bit of planning and fill the potholes earlier in the year

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    Mute William Boyd
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    Dec 5th 2015, 5:47 PM

    Don’t forget to turn the tap off when washing your teeth, its all about water conservation after all?.

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    Mute Louise Ní Riain
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    Dec 5th 2015, 8:56 AM

    Ugghh have to go to work in that. More of a day for the high stool

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    Mute Vincent Meehan
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    Dec 5th 2015, 10:41 AM

    I don’t mean to poke holes but that headline picture looks alot like Toronto and their street cars in the background?

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    Mute Derek Richardson
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    Dec 5th 2015, 8:53 AM

    It’s alright ye all can go back out tuesday we have a meeting in Dublin to see we can we batten down storm austerity which has been raging for years

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    Mute Cathal Shannon
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:05 AM

    You’re some saucepan Derek… I really hope you get soaked today

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    Mute jane
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:13 AM

    And Tuesday

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    Mute Shane Lyons
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    Dec 5th 2015, 3:49 PM

    Cathal I wonder who pi$$ed on Derek’s cornflakes???

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    Mute Derek Richardson
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:14 AM

    Cathal rather be a saucepan than a colander and have all drained out of me without trying to put a stop to it

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    Mute Cathal Shannon
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:29 AM

    Empty vessels make most noise

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    Mute Derek Richardson
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:32 AM

    And the more noise the better

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    Mute Derek Richardson
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:08 AM

    Did last sat not today though don’t like the same medicine over and over again like to try and do something about it

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    Mute Gem Larkin
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:32 AM

    Some one spitting their dodie out …awhhhhhh. Did ya git out of your homeless sleeping bag on the wrong side this morning.. jockd ?? ,yellow to the front , brown to the back. Derek

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    Mute Derek Richardson
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:39 AM

    Gem Larkin do not insult the name give it hack

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    Mute Paul Radburn
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    Dec 5th 2015, 4:02 PM

    Fcuk off Dessie!

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    Mute Derek Richardson
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:17 AM

    A tarzans mate whether it rains or not Jane I’ll be there

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    Mute Gem Larkin
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:44 AM

    Lol

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    Mute KK
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    Dec 5th 2015, 4:51 PM

    We’re not in Kanas anymore Toto !

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    Mute Proudly Italian
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    Dec 5th 2015, 4:36 PM

    I was coming back home last night (well…. early morning… 3.00 am) with my Vespa…. I can tell I challenged several laws of physics driving my scooter around…. but was fun!

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    Mute Ryan Hardy
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    Dec 5th 2015, 6:35 PM

    Went for a run then shopping, dinner and pints, you’re all wimps

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    Mute Michael cunnane
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    Dec 5th 2015, 5:42 PM

    Went t bring me dogs for walk ths mornin.the look on their faces.”No fkn way u gettn us out in that lad, p**ss off “

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    Mute joocy_froot
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    Dec 5th 2015, 5:26 PM

    You can fly to Donegal?!

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    Mute Derek Richardson
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    Dec 5th 2015, 9:37 AM

    Haha see all hear all assummption making know damn all lackey

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    Mute Iain MacLaren
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    Dec 5th 2015, 4:47 PM

    Meanwhile the government argues for an exemption from carbon emissions targets at the Paris conference. Didn’t someone tell these storms that we’re exempt? #denial

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    Mute Veronica
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    Dec 6th 2015, 9:20 AM

    I was in Dublin yesterday & while it was raining up to 12 noon it cleared up good enough with some squally outbursts but nothing compared to what other counties got.. There was still a lot of dry intervals.. When i got back to cork last night it was bucketing again..

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    Mute Neville Mc Carthy
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    Dec 5th 2015, 10:47 PM

    I drove from Dublin to athlone earlier today,to say it was an unpleasant experience is an understatement

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    Mute Martin Gallagher
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    Dec 5th 2015, 7:03 PM

    Storm Desmond! Almost makes the bad weather sound kinda’ alright and that it’s even a bit of craic. Can’t wait to hear the future news about ‘Storm Jack Cruise’ and its ….Gaels of Laughter, Ha! .
    Weather you wouldn’t even leave a ladder out in, I think?

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