Aodhán Ó Ríordáin apologises for Labour comments

Labour senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has apologised to his Labour colleagues for suggesting Brendan Howlin and Joan Burton need to make way for “generational renewal” within the party.

The apology from the former junior drugs strategy minister came at a private meeting of the Labour Parliamentary Party. According to several sources, Mr Ó Ríordáin said he regretted any offence taken after he said Brendan Howlin cannot lead a conversation on a future government with other centre-left parties.