Green Party leader Eamon Ryan 'deeply regrets' falling asleep during Dail vote

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said he "deeply regrets" falling asleep during a Dail vote earlier this week.

The TD was fast asleep in his chair when it came to his turn to vote in the Convention Centre on Thursday.

A video of the incident went viral with Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman describing the incident as a “moment of human frailty”.

Speaking today however the Green Party leader said he regrets the incident.

Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport Eamon Ryan TD during a session of Dail Eireann at the Convention Centre, Dublin (Gareth Chaney/Collins)

He told RTE's This Week Programme: "I voted. I think I was one of the few party leaders who were there, but I regret it deeply.

"It was a moment of human frailty, but that’s something I regret. You have to make sure that you continue and actually make sure you learn from such mistakes and stay alert every time, and I will be doing that."

The Green leader acknowledged that "it may well" hurt his chances in the upcoming leadership election.

The result of that election will be made public on Wednesday.