The Social Democrats are now "reviewing" how one of their newly elected TDs misled the media about when he sold shares in a company linked to the Israeli Defence Forces.
Between 2015 and 2017, Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes worked as a strategist for US data firm Palantir Technologies which builds “platforms for integrating, managing, and securing data”.
The firm’s clients include the Israeli Defence Forces.
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.
Soc Dems press conference. Photo: Leon Farrell/© RollingNews.ieAt 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".
In a statement issued soon after the tense 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."
The Social Democrats said, “This is a serious matter which the party is now reviewing.”
View this post on Instagram
Soc Dems and Israel
For months, the Social Democrats have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of the hostages, accountability for alleged Israeli war crimes and “economic and diplomatic sanctions on Israel.”
The party also deselected a local election candidate after “a number of failed attempts to resolve issues” around her views on the conflict.
Israel has said it will stop the bombing in Gaza for just four days - before it resumes the carnage.
We can’t allow this slaughter to continue.
There must be consequences for Israel’s actions. pic.twitter.com/8SMgeZmo2Q
— Holly Cairns TD (@HollyCairnsTD) November 22, 2023
“I think it’s important to people where I stand on Gaza and where I stand on Israel,” Deputy Hayes said during the morning press conference.
“I have been absolutely unequivocal on that and I have divested entirely from a shareholding that was associated with a company that I disagreed with.”
During the same press conference, Deputy Hayes’s colleague, Gary Gannon, urged journalists “to apply the same vigour” to their scrutiny of the Oireachtas Friends of Israel group.
Main images shows Social Democrat TDs at a press conference. Picture by: Leon Farrell/© RollingNews.ie
