Irish MP who wore blackface will not be sacked, says party

An Irish MP pictured in blackface at a 2009 Halloween party will stay on as a member of Ireland's Social Democrats, the party leader, Holly Cairns, has said, citing his "unreserved" apology and the fact that the incident took place 16 years ago.

- Ashifa Kassam Lisa O'Carroll

Eoin Hayes, a member of parliament (TD) for Dublin Bay South, came under fire this week after media published pictures of him dressed up as Barack Obama at a party. At the time, Hayes was the students' union president at University College Cork.

In a statement issued on Monday, Hayes said he had worn makeup on his face and hands while dressing up as Obama. "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."