People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy is calling for Eoin Hayes' resignation following his suspension from the Social Democrats.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Deputy Murphy said the Dublin Bay South TD should give up his seat and donate money made from Palantir shares to Palestinian causes.

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".

He also said he accepts and appreciates the decision made by his party colleagues and apologised for putting them "in such a difficult position".

The Social Democrats' suspension of Deputy Hayes was in relation to the divestment of shares in Palantir Technologies, a software company he worked for between 2015 to 2017.

The firm's clients include the Israeli Defence Forces.

Declaration of interests

When elected as a councillor in June this year, Deputy Hayes wrote in his declaration of interests that he had received company shares as part of his remuneration package at Palantir.

“I completely divested from all holdings in the company within the last 12 months and no longer hold any interest – financial or otherwise – in the company,” he wrote.

At a press conference outside Leinster House this morning, Deputy Hayes repeatedly refused to tell journalists when he sold his shares, only that he "divested entirely before I entered politics".

'He hasn't been transparent.' Journalists grew frustrated today when trying to get an answer on when exactly Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes sold his shares in a controversial firm with links to the Israeli Defence Forces. pic.twitter.com/di6YiESUEL

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) December 10, 2024

In a statement issued soon after the press conference, Deputy Hayes “unreservedly apologised for providing incorrect information”.

“Throughout the course of the past year, Palantir’s support for the Israeli military has markedly increased," he said.

"In January, the company signed a new strategic partnership with the Israeli Defence Ministry. I should have sold my shares then and I deeply regret that I did not.

“I had 7,000 shares in the company, all of which dated from my employment nearly a decade ago, and sold them in July 2024 for a pre-tax figure of €199,000.

“Earlier today, during a press conference, I stated I had sold the shares before I entered politics. This was not true. It was a month after I was first elected."

Suspension

The Social Democrats' deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan subsequently released a statement confirming that Deputy Hayes has been suspended from the party.

“At a press conference today, Eoin Hayes stated he had sold shares in Palantir before he entered politics,” the statement read.

“This was not true.

“Eoin was first elected to Dublin City Council in June 2024 and the shares were sold in July 2024.”

Deputy O’Callaghan said the situation is “a serious matter”.

“It is imperative that the media, who hold politicians to account on behalf of the public, can rely on the information they receive from elected representatives,” he said.

“For that reason, Eoin Hayes has been suspended from the Social Democrats parliamentary party with immediate effect."

The Social Democrats have been calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the return of the hostages and for economic and diplomatic sanctions on Israel.

Additional reporting by James Wilson.

Featured image: Cian O'Callaghan, Eoin Hayes and Gary Gannon outside the Dáil, 10/12/2024, Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie