Ryan to stay on as leader of the Green Party
Monaghan-native Deputy Catherine Martin was challenging Deputy Ryan, who has been leader of the party which recently entered coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, since May 2011.
The Green Party leadership contest concluded this evening with Eamon Ryan declared the winner by a slim margin of just 48 votes over deputy party leader Catherine Martin.
Polls closed at 5.30pm yesterday evening, by which time 1,950 votes had been received. There were ten spoiled ballots, giving a valid poll of 1,940 ballots.
Total ballots: 2,934
Ballots returned: 1,950
Turnout: 66.7%
Total spoiled votes: 10
Total valid poll: 1,940
Catherine Martin received 946 votes
Eamon Ryan received 994 votes
Addressing the party membership, Catherine Martin said: "I would like to thank everyone who voted for me, supported me, and canvassed for me, and to everyone who contributed their ideas, support, advice, energy, and passion for change over the course of this leadership contest. I would also like to thank each and every member who voted - you are the democratic heartbeat of our wonderful, democratic party, and we are stronger as a party for having had this contest.
"As leader for the last nine years, Eamon has led us to our greatest electoral achievements, and now, strengthened by a fresh mandate, he will continue to lead a bigger, more dynamic Green Party into the new challenges that lie ahead. I pledge to continue to support Eamon's leadership, and I look forward to working alongside him to continue to bring us from strength to strength, and I ask all our members to fully and actively support Eamon as leader.
"As Eamon brings us forward as leader, the most important thing we can do is stay together, stay united."
Eamon Ryan said this evening: "I want to thank everyone who was involved in this election. I'm very glad to be reelected leader of the Green Party tonight, and glad to have had this contest with Catherine Martin, and to go about it in the way we did, which was collaborative and civil, and recognised that our Party tradition is not just about one leader or being hierarchical. As Catherine said - we have to work together now, as a team.
"We have a tough job ahead in government and we have a responsibility now to serve all our people, and I'm committed to doing everything I can to try and help this Party, and in doing that, helping this country and our people through what is a remarkably challenging period.
"I'd like to congratulate Catherine on her campaign and her huge vote. We are still a team and we are not alone, we have our parliamentary party, our councillors across the country, and every member of this Party - they all have a role to play as we face this task ahead of us, and I look forward to being part of that team and helping lead the team to make the changes we need to make for the sake of this country and the climate and biodiversity crises we're facing."