Children's minister: Eamon Ryan's Dáil snooze 'a moment of human frailty'

Footage of Ryan asleep in the Convention Centre last night has gone viral.

So there is a vote on the @SocDems bill to give workers a living wage - @EamonRyan of @greenparty_ie has to be woken up to vote AGAINST it #Dail pic.twitter.com/VCMT3HIzPt
— Mick Caul (@caulmick) July 16, 2020

Mick Caul / Twitter

CHILDREN’S MINISTER RODERIC O’Gorman has described a viral video of Green Party leader Eamon Ryan asleep in the Dáil as “a moment of human frailty”.

Footage taken from inside the Convention Centre last night showed Ryan sleeping as he was called on to vote during a motion on giving lower paid workers a living wage.

In the video, captured by Oireachtas TV cameras, Ryan’s name is heard being called a number of times, before Chief Whip Jack Chambers is seen attempting to get his attention.

The incident has since gone viral, and led to online criticism of Ryan for sleeping on the job.

But his party colleague played down the incident today, while acknowledging that Ryan did not cover himself in glory.

“I think there’s a moment of human frailty there from Eamon. It shouldn’t have happened and he acknowledged as much himself,” Roderic O’Gorman said.

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More