Prior to the 1993 parliamentary election, Ryan was one of three nominee candidates for the Socialist Left Party's list in Nord-Trøndelag.
Ryan was nominated on third place on the list, after Jorunn Hageler and Inge Staldvik.
Hageler was elected to parliament, and Ryan was her second deputy during the term 1993 to 1997.
Prior to the 1997 election, Ryan was launched as an alternative top candidate for Nord-Trøndelag.
At the nomination meeting, Hageler won 23 against Ryan's 13 votes, and Ryan was placed on second place on the list.
After the nomination, Hageler stated that she regretted having said that Ryan was less suitable to sit in parliament than she was, because of his down-to-earth appeal and informal dress code.
The party failed to win a seat from the county in 1997.
Ryan was a possible candidate to become deputy party leader of his party in 1997, but was instead appointed as central board member.
He became deputy leader in 1999, a position he held until 2001.

In the 2001 election, Ryan was the party's top candidate in the county, and succeeded in winning a seat.
The party had its best election ever, including in Nord-Trøndelag, where it won 13.8% of the votes, up 7.5% compared to 1997.
Ryan became a member of the party's largest parliamentary group ever.
During the parliamentary term from 2001 to 2005, Ryan was a member of the Standing Committee on Business and Industry and the Election Committee.
He was a member of the parliamentary delegation to the Nordic Council.
He also was a deputy member of the European Committee and the delegation to the United Nations General Assembly.

In the 2005 election, Ryan was successful at retaining his seat.
Following the Socialist Left Party's entering government as part of Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet, Ryan was appointed the party's parliamentary leader.
He was appointed first vice chair of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, a position he held until 24 November 2007, when he again sat on the Standing Committee on Business and Industry.
For the full term 2005 to 2009, he was a member of the Election Committee and the Enlarged Committee on Foreign Affairs.
He was a delegate to the Nordic Council, and from 2007 a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.
Prior to the 1993 parliamentary election, Ryan was one of three nominee candidates for the Socialist Left Party's list in Nord-Trøndelag. Ryan was nominated on third place on the list, after Jorunn Hageler and Inge Staldvik. Hageler was elected to parliament, and Ryan was her second deputy during the term 1993 to 1997. Prior to the 1997 election, Ryan was launched as an alternative top candidate for Nord-Trøndelag. At the nomination meeting, Hageler won 23 against Ryan's 13 votes, and Ryan was placed on second place on the list. After the nomination, Hageler stated that she regretted having said that Ryan was less suitable to sit in parliament than she was, because of his down-to-earth appeal and informal dress code. The party failed to win a seat from the county in 1997. Ryan was a possible candidate to become deputy party leader of his party in 1997, but was instead appointed as central board member. He became deputy leader in 1999, a position he held until 2001.
In the 2001 election, Ryan was the party's top candidate in the county, and succeeded in winning a seat. The party had its best election ever, including in Nord-Trøndelag, where it won 13.8% of the votes, up 7.5% compared to 1997. Ryan became a member of the party's largest parliamentary group ever. During the parliamentary term from 2001 to 2005, Ryan was a member of the Standing Committee on Business and Industry and the Election Committee. He was a member of the parliamentary delegation to the Nordic Council. He also was a deputy member of the European Committee and the delegation to the United Nations General Assembly.
In the 2005 election, Ryan was successful at retaining his seat. Following the Socialist Left Party's entering government as part of Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet, Ryan was appointed the party's parliamentary leader. He was appointed first vice chair of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, a position he held until 24 November 2007, when he again sat on the Standing Committee on Business and Industry. For the full term 2005 to 2009, he was a member of the Election Committee and the Enlarged Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was a delegate to the Nordic Council, and from 2007 a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.
Inge Ryan