Ireland's Green Party leader Eamon Ryan issued an apology after using the n-word in the Dáil today.RollingNews.ie

TD Eamon Ryan, the leader of Ireland's Green Party, apologized today after he used the n-word in the Dáil on Thursday while referencing an Irish Times op-ed on racism in Ireland.

Ryan used the word while speaking out against racism in Irish society and cited an opinion piece that was published today, June 11, in The Irish Times. 

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Sean Gallen, who authored the op-ed for The Irish Times, wrote about his experiences growing up black in Ireland. The n-word was replaced with asterisks throughout his piece.

Speaking during the Statements and Questions and Answers to the Taoiseach session on Thursday, TD Ryan raised the issue of racism in Ireland and how the country can work against it.

Ryan said: "In the newspaper today, there was a young Irish man Sean Gallen giving his experience of being 'othered,' from the age of six being given that name, 'You n*****,' and explaining that sense to him how it completely undermines people."

The Green Party leader has since tweeted an apology for using the racial slur: 

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Green Party councilor Daniel Whooley criticized his party leader in a statement on Twitter on Thursday afternoon. 

Whooley said that Ryan's comments were "morally reprehensible" and that the n-word should never be used regardless of context. 

Ryan is currently in a Green Party leadership battle with fellow TD Catherine Martin. The current leader reportedly has just 52% of Green Party councilors, with Catherine Martin polling at 48% at present. 

The Green Party is also negotiating a deal to form a Government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael following February's election.  

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