Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes is expected to remain in the party after receiving backing from party leader Holly Cairns, reports RTE.
This follows an apology from Mr Hayes for wearing what he described as a “completely inappropriate” Halloween costume in 2009, in which he darkened his face and hands with brown makeup to impersonate then-US President Barack Obama, reports RTE.
Speaking at the party’s think-in in Dublin, Ms Cairns called the incident “extremely disappointing and embarrassing” but acknowledged that it occurred long before Hayes entered political life.
“I want to be clear that it’s not an excuse, but the context of it being 16 years ago is something that I have to consider and I am taking it into consideration,” she said, reports RTE.
“Eoin himself said that he should have known better but he did not,” reports RTE.
Mr Hayes, who represents Dublin Bay South, stated that he accepts full responsibility and apologised to anyone hurt by his past actions.
He did not attend the think-in, a decision Ms Cairns said he made himself.
“I think it was the right decision to not come and distract from the issues of the day,” she added, reports RTE.
Mr Hayes had only recently been readmitted to the Social Democrats in July, after serving a seven-month suspension for providing false information about when he sold shares in Palantir Technologies, his former employer, reports RTE.
Palantir is known for its IT contracts with the Israeli government and the US military.
Speaking earlier on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ms Cairns said there was “no way to sugar coat” Mr Hayes’ decision to wear blackface, even if it happened 16 years ago, reports RTE.
She also revealed she learned about the incident through the media and not from Mr Hayes directly. They had a brief conversation about it, and she said they would talk further.
“I just want to be clear that blackface is a form of racism,” Ms Cairns said, reports RTE.
“And in the Social Democrats, we abhor all kinds of racism. So, I’m glad that Deputy Hayes has acknowledged that, taken full responsibility for it,” she said, reports RTE.
She noted she was deeply disappointed to be addressing the issue on her first day back from maternity leave, reports RTE.
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