Irish TD to remain party member after Obama 'blackface' apology
Eoin Hayes apologised after photos surfaced of him dressed as Barack Obama 16 years ago
- Published
An under-fire member of the Irish parliament who has apologised for being pictured in blackface when dressed up as US President Barack Obama will remain a Social Democrats member, the party's leader has said.
Eoin Hayes said he was "profoundly sorry" for the "completely inappropriate" costume, which he wore while president of University College Cork's Students' Union 16 years ago.
The Dublin Bay South member issued the statement on Monday, external, after being told pictures would be published in the media.
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said if the incident happened "last week or even last year, he would no longer be a Social Democrats TD (Irish parliamentary member)".
It's the second time Hayes has been involved in scandal since his election last November.
He was suspended by the party for almost eight months after giving incorrect information to the media about the sale of shares in his former employer Palantir Technologies, which has ties to both the US military and Israel.
He sat as an independent until he was readmitted in July.
Barack Obama costume 'a huge mistake'
The latest controversy comes as the Irish Daily Mail published photographs of Hayes in blackface - a practice which is often considered highly offensive and racist - at an event in 2009.
Hayes said he wore brown make-up on his face and hands while dressing up as someone he "greatly admired". He also said he later worked on Obama's re-election campaign in 2012.
"While I didn't have an understanding of how hurtful it was at the time, I came to recognise that in the intervening years and I am so profoundly sorry," he added.
"What I did was completely inappropriate and a huge mistake."
Hayes said he condemns racism in "all its forms" and takes full responsibility for his actions.
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Speaking on Tuesday, Cairns said there was "no way to sugarcoat" what happened.
"I'm hugely disappointed and annoyed about this situation on my first day back," she told RTÉ's Morning Ireland radio programme, referring to her recent return from maternity leave.
"There are so many issues that me and the party would prefer to be focusing on, instead, we're talking about this."
Cairns said that blackface is a form of racism, "and in the Social Democrats, we abhor all kinds of racism".
She added that she found out about the incident from the media and not from Hayes.
The party leader said she was glad he has now taken full responsibility.
"He said that he didn't understand how objectionable and hurtful it was at the time but that he should have known better and he's issued an unreserved apology to that effect," she added.
Cairns said that if the incident happened more recently, Hayes would not be a party TD.
"The fact that this happened 16 years ago is a very different situation," she said.
"And like Eoin said himself, it is indefensible, it is wrong.
"He didn't understand how wrong it was at the time, and he knows that he should have known better and has issued that unreserved apology."
The priority for her party, Cairns added, is to make sure everyone feels welcome.