'Really annoyed' Holly Cairns criticises Eoin Hayes for 2009 Barack Obama blackface costume

At her first doorstep with journalists since her return from maternity leave, Ms Cairns said it was 'embarrassing' for the Social Democrats after the images of Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes in blackface were published

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns speaks to the media at her party's annual think-in. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has said it is “undoubtedly a difficult time” for her party, after a TD it had previously suspended had photos published of him wearing blackface at a party during his college days.  

At her first doorstep with journalists since her return from maternity leave, Ms Cairns said that she was “really annoyed by the situation” and admitted it was “embarrassing” for the Social Democrats after the images of Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes were published.  

“I’m glad that he recognises that he should have known better, but there is no excuse and he has issued that unreserved apology,” she said. 

“I think he deserves an opportunity to work hard now to try to regain people’s trust.”  

Mr Hayes issued an apology for wearing a blackface Halloween costume of Barack Obama, after photographs of the outfit were published in newspapers on Tuesday morning. He said the photos were from a party he attended while president of the University College Cork Students’ Union 16 years ago.  

“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 said. “What I did was completely inappropriate and a huge mistake. 

"I condemn racism in all its forms and do not condone that behaviour under any circumstances. 

Eoin Hayes has apologised for dressing up as Barack Obama in 2009.

"I take full responsibility for my actions and from the bottom of my heart, I apologise for any and all hurt caused by what I did and the images of that night."  

Ms Cairns said Mr Hayes has decided not to attend the party’s annual think-in in Dublin today, saying it was because “he doesn't want to take attention away from the important issues that we're focusing on.”  

Previously, Mr Hayes had been suspended from the Social Democrats after he provided incorrect information to the media about when he disposed of shares in Palantir, a US company that supplies the Israeli Defence Forces with artificial intelligence tools. He was recently readmitted to the parliamentary party.  

Speaking at the think-in, Ms Cairns said that if the blackface incident had happened last week, or last year, Mr Hayes would no longer be a Social Democrats TD.  

“There are no circumstances where blackface is okay,” she said. “It is racist. I’m glad that Deputy Hayes has acknowledged that. He didn’t understand the implications, how hurtful it was at the time.  

“But he understands that now. And has issued an unreserved apology in relation to that. It is disappointing. And I would prefer for the focus of the party today to be on all of those important issues that we're focusing on the new Dáil term.”  

She said that Mr Hayes faced a “quite severe sanction” over the Palantir affair, and that her party would be moving forward from it.  

Ms Cairns said he had made the decision not to appear at the Social Democrats’ think-in as he “didn’t want to distract further from the issues” the party wanted to focus on, such as disability, housing and Gaza.  

“As leader of the party, it is my responsibility to stand up and take these questions,” she said. “I’m quite happy to do that, and glad to get the opportunity to set the record straight and where the party stands on the issue.”  

She added that the party would be discussing the situation with Mr Hayes when its TDs meet. 

PBP: 'Wrong' for Hayes to be readmitted

In response to Ms Cairns's comments, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said: "Regardless of the circumstances, white people in “blackface” is always racist and always completely unacceptable. While I welcome the fact that Hayes has apologised, his claim of ignorance is no excuse.

This latest scandal around Eoin Hayes reinforces that the Social Democrats were wrong to quietly readmit him to the party on a Friday evening over the summer while the Dail was in recess.