Irish Examiner view: Ryan's successor must have the stomach for climate fight

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan announced his departure, taking many observers by surprise

The Green Party must now find a leader and deputy leader, after Catherine Martin followed Eamon Ryan and announced she would resign her position. Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

The Green Party must now find a leader and deputy leader, after Catherine Martin followed Eamon Ryan and announced she would resign her position.

The Greens did not enjoy the recent European and local elections. They lost both of their MEPs, with Ciarán Cuffe being replaced in Dublin, and Grace O’Sullivan losing out in Ireland South.

At local level, the news was also bad: Overall, the number of Green Party councillors halved when the ballots were counted and, in that context, it perhaps is not a shock that Ryan stepped down as party leader. He had held the position for 13 years, which is a long innings in the storm of modern politics.

Ryan’s career will be analysed in the coming days, with close scrutiny of his performance as Minister for the Environment, Climate, and Communications, and Minister for Transport, portfolios which are at the heart of the Green Party.

While running those departments, he faced considerable opposition, much of it personal and over the top. Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary was a natural opponent for Ryan, and the airline chief seemed to take great delight in his criticism of the minister, describing Ryan as a ‘dunce’ on one occasion. His political foes included the Healy-Rae tribe in Kerry, climate change sceptics who enjoyed the Greens’ poor showing in the recent elections, and delighted in disproving Ryan’s pre-election declaration that the “Kingdom was going Green”.

It is unsurprising, perhaps, that rural TDs would oppose a Green Party politician from south Co Dublin. Ryan’s political vulnerability was the ease with which opponents could paint him as a city dweller keen to impose unreasonable restrictions on those in rural Ireland, however unfair those declarations were.

The carnival rolls on and the Greens must find a leader. Martin’s decision not to put herself forward may leave the field clear for Roderic O’Gorman.

However, he has been at odds with Cabinet colleagues in his capacity as Minister for Integration and it is not clear whether he has wider appeal than Ryan with the electorate.

The next leader needs to continue the climate change fight. A general election will see greater recognition of the need for a green agenda. How long they’ll have to impose themselves and their ideas before a general election, is the big question.

Cara's last resort should shame us

This newspaper has regularly highlighted the challenges facing autistic children. Only last week, Cianan Brennan wrote that seven in 10 parents of autistic children said their child’s diagnosis had negatively impacted their ability to access the HSE’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs), for instance.

Last Thursday, we reported on our front page that Cara Darmody, a 13-year-old schoolgirl, would protest outside the Dáil as part of a campaign for better autism services. Cara, who has two brothers with severe autism, started her protest yesterday and plans to be outside Leinster House and the office of the Taoiseach every week until the summer recess.

On one hand, it is encouraging to see someone so young commit to protesting on behalf of her family and others. At a time when widespread cynicism about young people and their supposed narcissism can be the default position for many, Cara’s commitment and dedication serve to restore one’s faith in the next generation.

Yet there is another reading of this situation which is profoundly dispiriting. It is an indictment of Irish society that a teenager should be exercised to protest like this to secure basic rights and services for her own brothers.

That is no criticism of Cara Darmody, who can only be commended for her initiative and energy.

She summed up her position neatly yesterday: “Every month of a delay in assessing children for services and then giving them timely access to services can be catastrophic to the development of a child growing up with autism.

“Soundbites and promises are all well and good but families desperately need action, and that’s not just action for a lucky percentage, but action for all.”

It is impossible to argue with the logic of that position, particularly the call for action for everybody and not just a few.

The final takeaway here may be the fact that a teenager - albeit a committed, politically aware teenager - can isolate and dismiss soundbites for what they are. This should resonate with the political class.

McIlroy's dismay

Rory McIlroy’s major drought of 10 years seemed to be over as he stood on the brink of victory in the US Open before a
disastrous series of missed putts left him runner-up to eventual winner Bryson DeChambeau.

In a widely circulated video clip, McIlroy could be seen at the course clubhouse watching DeChambeau hit the winning shot before leaving the room abruptly, clearly disappointed.

Yesterday, McIlroy released a statement congratulating DeChambeau and musing on his own performance before
signing off as follows: “I’m going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defence of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland.”

McIlroy had an eventful build-up to the US Open — he announced he was reconciling with wife Erica, having previously announced their divorce — and the disappointment of his defeat clearly cut deep. The last few days illustrate clearly the huge pressures which come to bear — even on hugely successful sportspeople.

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