“A suspect package addressed to Eoin Hayes was delivered to our office on Frederick Street. The gardaí were called and they then made the decision to call the bomb squad,” said Colette Browne, the Social Democrats political and communications director.

The recently elected TD will now sit in the Dáil as an independent after he was suspended from the Social Democrats. Eoin Hayes, who was elected in Dublin Bay South, released a statement last night saying that he hopes to "earn back the trust of the Social Democrats and will work with them to do so".

Newly elected Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes has been suspended from the Social Democrats' parliamentary party with immediate effect.

Party sources said that staff within the headquarters became suspicious of the package, with the office never having received a package addressed to Mr Hayes

Social Democrats have suspended one of their newly elected TDs following a 'serious matter' where it was revealed they sold shares of their former US employer.

He will take his seat in the Dáil as an independent deputy next week, but will not be receiving a €37,037 allowance for independent TDs

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Neighbouring buildings have been evacuated and Frederick Street has been cordoned off as the bomb squad remain on site