The offices of the Social Democrats have been evacuated after a ‘suspicious package’ was delivered. The offices, on South Frederick Street in Dublin 2, were evacuated, with Gardaí and an army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit attending the scene.

“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.

Hayes, a TD elected to Dublin Bay South, was suspended with immediate effect from the Social Democrats parliamentary party this week.

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