Taoiseach says 'blackface' controversy is 'unfortunate' for Social Democrats

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said it is “unfortunate” that the Social Democrats, a party he said has a tendency to lecture others, finds itself dealing with the fallout of one of its TDs having worn ‘blackface’ to a 2009 Halloween party.

In what is the latest controversy to befall Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes, it emerged on Monday night that Mr Hayes had, in 2009, while he was president of UCC students’ union, attended a party wearing brown make-up on his face and hands while dressed as then-US president Barack Obama.

Mr Hayes was only reinstated to the Social Democrats in June, following a seven-month suspension after he had admitted to supplying incorrect information about when he had sold his shares in Palantir, a company for which he had previously worked, and which is linked to the Israeli Defence Forces.

In a statement issued on Monday evening, Mr Hayes said he had learned that a media outlet had photos of him attending the party in make-up, and they were published this morning.

In his statement, Mr Hayes said he had dressed as someone he had greatly admired, and “whose re-election campaign I went on to work for in 2012”.

HURTFUL

He said he had not, at the time, understood “how hurtful” wearing ‘blackface’ was, but he now was aware it was “completely inappropriate” and a “huge mistake”.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, who only returned from maternity leave on today, told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that she had only learned of Mr Hayes’s statement through media and not from the TD himself.

Ms Cairns said there was “no way to sugarcoat” the incident.

“I’m hugely disappointed and annoyed about this situation on my first day back,” she said.

“There are so many issues that we would prefer to be focusing on instead.” 

Speaking to reporters at the Rochestestown Park Hotel at the end of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party think-in, the Taoiseach did not resist the opportunity to have a go at the Social Democrats, but did not pile the pressure on Mr Hayes.

“The Social Democrats do tend to lecture everybody else in terms of proper behaviour, so it’s somewhat unfortunate for them to end up in this sort of controversy on their parliamentary party think-in,” Mr Martin said.

“He has apologised fulsomely for this. It was during his student days, so I think, as far I’m concerned, that’s where the issue rests.”