Green Party leader Eamon Ryan says Leo Varadkar could become Taoiseach again in December

Party leader of the Greens Eamon Ryan says Leo Varadkar may become Taoiseach again in December, despite a possible criminal complaint hanging over the Tánaiste.

My expectation is, or I would imagine, that the issue will be resolved before December,” Ryan told Independent.ie.

His statement represents solid political support for the embattled Fine Gael leader.

His view also reflects the belief in Leo Varadkar’s camp that the DPP will make a decision on the matter within weeks.

Current statistics from the DPP office show that more than half of all files are processed within two weeks.

Mr Ryan revealed he spoke to the Tánaiste yesterday but declined to say what Mr Varadkar had said to him in a private conversation and whether he had asked for the Green Party leader’s political support.

“I just have to be very careful. I do not want to comment on the DPP and their review of the file,” he said.

“I think that would be inappropriate and I think we have benefited enormously from having an independent legal and judicial system in this country.

“Therefore I cannot comment on the specific matter, including how long the DPP might last.

“But my expectation is, or I would imagine with the DPP, that the issue will be resolved before December. So I don’t expect it to be a problem then.”

If the matter is resolved one way or another, Mr. Ryan suggested that Leo Varadkar would take over the office of Taoiseach from Micheál Martin, as envisaged in the government program.

The Greens leader would not comment on possible or hypothetical outcomes such as: B. an indictment leading to a conviction and a fine, and whether that would change the political calculus.

“I will await the work of the DPP and their comments or their approach,” he said, confirming that he spoke to the Tánaiste yesterday, Saturday.

“We communicate regularly and I don’t think this issue will affect or undermine the current way the government works.

“We have a well-functioning government. We have to do something for the people and there are so many different and challenging things ahead of us.

“That’s my focus and let the DPP do their job and we’ll wait for the outcome.”

When asked about a scenario in which criminal charges would be brought against the Tánaiste, and whether that would necessarily stem the issue of a rotating Taoiseach, Mr Ryan replied, “Honest to God, I prefer not to comment on the outcome of the to speculate consideration of DPP.

“But we are waiting for it together, and in the meantime I don’t think it prevents us from working effectively as a government – nor should it.”

His attitude is that the examination of the files is in a separate area from politics and has to go its own way, he reiterated.

This meant that the Government Agreement program for a rotating Taoiseach remained in effect, with the December 2022 stipulation that Leo Varadkar would become Taoiseach again.

“Yes, I do not want to preempt the DPP or put pressure on the DPP in any way. But yeah, that would be my opinion,” he said.

Meanwhile, statistical analysis supports the view that the DPP could decide the matter fairly quickly. But if charges were filed, it would be weeks before the sensational scenario of a seated Tánaiste appeared in district court.

Not since the infamous arms trial more than 50 years ago has a sitting government minister done so in a criminal case.

A Fine Gael source pointed out that the DPP office’s annual report shows that 56 per cent of files submitted by the Gardaí were processed into a decision within two weeks.

Another 16 percent was finalized within four weeks and another 16 percent within three months, for a total of 88 percent completed within that cumulative time frame.

Should Mr Varadkar’s case fall within that timeframe, it would be concluded at DPP level in the summer. Even if an indictment were brought – if Mr Varadkar had to decide how to plead – it would likely have been included in the district court lists by early September.

The defendants also have an automatic right of appeal in the district court, which means there is a slim chance and an external possibility, depending on the initial results, that the political controversy could continue into the new year.

Today, Fine Gael sources drew attention to the fast and efficient processing of most files sent to the DPP.

But a file involving the deputy prime minister has major implications, meaning they are likely to be carefully scrutinized, which in turn could lengthen the process in the case of Leo Varadkar.