"Minister Eamon Ryan yesterday informed me of his decision to resign his leadership of the Green Party.

"Eamon is a politician of enormous standing and I want to pay tribute to him and his family for everything they have given Irish politics through his leadership of the Greens. I respect and understand his decision.

"Eamon is a genuine, passionate and inherently decent person who brings those same qualities to politics.

"The leadership of the Green Party is now a matter for the party’s members and rules.

"The government’s work continues and the Programme for Government between the three coalition parties will continue to be implemented.

"We have much work to do."