Green Party Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan today fuelled speculation that there is an internal party agreement on the rotation of ministerial positions.
Speaking to journalists, Mr Ryan said the issue of rotating ministers was something which would have to be worked out between the Green Party leader, John Gormley and Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
Asked if rotating Ministers was a good idea, he said: “Ultimately it depends on the Taoiseach and MrGormley. It’s ultimately a constitutional issue and the Taoiseach has prerogative and he has to work through that format. That’s not completed yet and we have to wait and see.”
A Green Party spokesman insisted tonight that Mr Ryan had not specifically acknowledges the existence of an agreement on rotation. “Nothing has changed. We are not commenting on this until discussions between John Gormley and the Taoiseach are concluded,” the spokesman added.
Earlier Mr Ryan was asked if he was prepared to accept a situation in which Mr Gormley stepped down. “I’ll accept whatever the outcome is,” he said.
The minister disputed suggestions that he had agreed not to contest leadership of the party when Trevor Sargent stepped down in 2007, on condition that he would be given a five-year term in the cabinet.
“No, my recollection is of having a real sense of responsibility at taking on a ministerial role. That is what I was committed to and committing myself to and nothing else. That still is my entire focus as a minister.”
He insisted that his elevation was not part of a deal. “I don’t think there was any mention of that,” he said.
Asked about the apparent difference in Mr Gormley’s cabinet tenure and his, Mr Ryan said: “It’s all a matter for the leaders of the party. John and Trevor at the time worked out how we would go into Government. I was happy to work within the way they set out, but ultimately it is a matter for the Taoiseach with the party leader to manage.”
The Minister said he expected the reshuffle would be announced some time after St Patrick’s Day and before Easter.
“A reshuffle is obviously needed now because we have two ministerial positions vacant. That’s the timeline we’ll have to work… to get that together It’s primarily a question for the Taoiseach working with Minister Gormley to get the arrangement in place and I’m confident they will.”
Mr Ryan conceded that reports of a ministerial rotation deal had not helped the Green Party in the eyes of the public.
“I think distracting from the core job of Government which is delivering jobs, which is better economic recovery which is making social changes.”
However, he defended his party’s record in Government. “I think that the public will see as they have seen in the last two and a half years that the greens in government are actually able to manage difficult political situations, difficult times and can get on with the business of being in Government and that’s ultimately what they’ll judge and measure us on.”
Mr Cowen refused to be drawn about the impending reshuffle today, telling journalists the main thing was that Fianna Fail and the Greens were committed to working together. “The question of the structure of government is a secondary issue,” he added.