Eamon Ryan is teeing himself up as the country’s first Green Tánaiste.
The Green Party leader has ruled out the top job of Taoiseach in the new Government if they join it, but he has not ruled out the second most powerful position going to him.
First of all though, Mr Ryan has to battle some of his own party to remain on as their leader as his deputy, Catherine Martin, is mulling over a challenge.
The Green Party’s constitution states that they must have a leadership contest within six months of a general election.
August 8th is D-Day in this case because the election was held on February 8th last.
Mr Ryan was speaking on RTE’s Today with Sarah McInerney where he outlined his plans to possibly become Tánaiste, after saying Taoiseach is not a role he is interested in.
He said: “It’s not something I’ve considered or talked to the party about, but let’s wait until the end of the process.”
Host, Ms McInerney, then pushed Mr Ryan directly and asked if he is considering the Tánaiste job.
He said: “Yes, because it is something very different.”
And on his own leadership struggle, he said: “I will happily put my name forward again, but I’m not obsessing on that.
“I think the more critical thing is what can we do for the Irish people to get us out of the immediate crisis we’re in.”
Mr Ryan added that whoever wins the leadership battle, he and Ms Martin could still serve “vice versa” as leader and deputy leader after the contest.
Mr Ryan also said the party would be interested in the influential post of Attorney General going to a Green nominee.
And he said that the Covid payments would have to be adjusted next month because it is not sustainable to keep paying them at the current rate of €350 a week.
