The Daily Star Ireland
Eoin Hayes, the Dublin Bay South TD who was suspended from the Social Democrats late last year, has officially returned to the party after nearly eight months sitting as an Independent. The party confirmed his reinstatement this week, marking a new chapter for the first-time TD whose political career was quickly mired in controversy following his election.
Suspension Over Palantir Share Controversy
Hayes, elected in November’s general election, was suspended just weeks into his tenure after it emerged he had provided misleading information regarding his financial interests. On December 10, 2023, revelations surfaced that he had inaccurately informed media about when he divested from his holdings in Palantir Technologies—a US-based software firm with contracts tied to both the Israeli government and the American military.
The next day, during a press conference at the Dáil plinth, Hayes spent nearly half an hour fielding questions on the matter without offering full clarity. Later that same day, he publicly confirmed he had sold his shares in Palantir for just under €200,000. The transaction had occurred a month after he was elected to Dublin City Council, raising ethical concerns about timing and transparency.
Following the disclosure, Hayes remained in the Dáil as an Independent TD, though the Social Democrats continued to count him as part of their parliamentary grouping—a status that had implications for committee allocations in the Oireachtas.
Calls for Redemption and Accountability
Announcing his return, the party’s deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan expressed his belief that Hayes deserves a second chance. “Eoin has been suspended from the parliamentary party for nearly eight months, and I believe he should be given a second chance,” said O’Callaghan. “He has a lot to offer as a Social Democrats TD, and I look forward to working with him.”
Hayes, for his part, issued a renewed public apology and offered further explanation. “At the outset, I want to give a full and unequivocal apology for giving the incorrect information to the media about when I divested from Palantir,” he stated. “I also want to be clear that I should not have held the shares for as long as I did.”
In an effort to demonstrate remorse and make amends, Hayes revealed he has donated $51,000 to humanitarian organisations active in Gaza—specifically UNRWA, UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders. He said the figure represents the gains made from the Palantir shares during the period from October 7, 2023, to July 26, 2024, after deducting taxes.
“I know I have let people down,” Hayes added. “I am determined to work hard and earn back people’s trust.”
A Political Reset Amid Public Scrutiny
Hayes’ reentry into the Social Democrats comes at a time when ethics and transparency remain sensitive issues in Irish politics. While his reinstatement is likely to spark debate, especially among those who had voiced disappointment over the original incident, the party’s leadership appears to be banking on accountability and transparency as a way forward.
With public confidence at stake, both Hayes and the Social Democrats will now face the challenge of demonstrating that lessons have been learned—and that his second chance is more than symbolic.
