Kildare Councillor Darren Scully has been restored to the Fine Gael party, 20 months after his expulsion.
Fine Gael General Secretary Tom Curran today confirmed Cllr Scully's re-admission to the party ahead of next May's local elections.
The party's disciplinary committee had withdrawn the whip in February 2012 in response to controversial remarks made by Mr Scully in November 2011 about people of African origin living in Naas.
Mr Scully had said on local radio that he would no longer represent "black Africans" in his community because of "aggression" he received when dealing with them.
Mr Scully subsequently resigned as Mayor of Naas and apologised for making the remarks.
