Eamon Ryan departure clears the way for an early general election

Privately, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael ministers and backbenchers have been far less enthusiastic than the Greens about slogging it out until March of next year

Eamon Ryan's stepping down makes it a little easier for Simon Harris to decide on the timing of a general election. File photo: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

Long the most ardent supporter of a full-term Government, Eamon Ryan's departure blasts open the door for an early general election.

But his exit at the next election, whenever that is called, will be a significant loss to politics despite what many of his detractors might claim.