Eoin Hayes (C) with Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan (L) and Deputy Garda Gannon

Social Democrats discuss full review of Hayes' suspension

by · RTE.ie

The national executive of the Social Democrats met tonight to discuss holding a full review into the circumstances surrounding the suspension of newly elected TD Eoin Hayes.

Mr Hayes was suspended from the Social Democrats' parliamentary party after he confirmed that he sold his shares in software company Palantir for just under €200,000 in July, one month after he was elected to Dublin City Council.

He faced questions over his divestment of shares in the firm which supplies artificial intelligence tools to the Israeli military.

Deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan said the national executive was meeting at his "request to discuss a full review".

Asked how long a full review may take, he said: "I would imagine this will take a number of weeks."

Deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan said he is 'embarrassed' about what happened

Mr O'Callaghan said that to say he is "embarrassed" about what happened "would be an understatement" and that leader Holly Cairns "is extremely disappointed about this".

Asked if there is a route back into the party for Mr Hayes, Mr O'Callaghan said the Social Democrats "only took the decision yesterday" and that it is "not in a position to make a decision into the future" at this stage.

He said that "decisive action" had been taken and clarified that the parliamentary party made a "unanimous" decision to suspend Mr Hayes.

The deputy, Mr O'Callaghan said, did not offer to resign from the Social Democrats or the Dáil.

Mr Hayes has confirmed that he will take his "seat as an Independent" when the house resumes next Wednesday.

Hayes refunds €1,500 of contribution to donor

At the same media briefing, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon confirmed that Mr Hayes told him that he would refund €1,500 of a €2,500 donation that was made through Go Fund Me to help his General Election campaign.

There is a €1,000 limit for political donations to individuals.

In a statement, Mr Hayes confirmed that he has refunded the money to the donor, who is known to him.

He said he understood "the donor confused the annual party limit (€2,500) with the annual individual limit (€1,000)".

Mr Hayes also confirmed that he "took down the GoFundMe page" that he "used for local election donations on 10 December 2024" as well as the iDonate page for General Election contributions.