The Workers’ Party has called on the Social Democrats to conduct a transparent inquiry into the financial and political background of Eoin Hayes, with many serious questions remaining unanswered in relation to the now independent TD.

Garrett Greene, Workers’ Party representative for Cabra-Glasnevin, said: “The Workers’ Party believes that Mr Hayes lies concerning the issue of when he profited from the genocide in Palestine is one of the most abhorrent episodes in Irish public life in a very long time.”

“That a full account is given by Mr Hayes and the Social Democrats concerning all the background to this issue is of national importance. The current story that Eoin Hayes wishes for the Social Democrats and the public to believe is that his involvement in a company which proudly sits at the very core of the US/Israeli Military-Industrial Complex was only for a short period and amounts to little importance, yet we are also to believe he was handsomely paid for his work and also sent forth from the company with a heavy portfolio of shares.”

“The reality is that the company, Palantir, as a corporate entity is intrinsically linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency; from it providing initial funding to their ongoing long and close relationship in surveillance and data mining programmes. In a few short years, Mr Hayes career path has led him from being a security-checked Palantir employee to an elected representative of a pro-Palestine political party, while profiting massively directly from the genocide in that country.”

“This highly interesting political journey by Mr Hayes is one which his voters and the general public deserve to hear more about.”

“An interesting question is when did Mr Hayes turn from an ambassador for Silicon Valley data harvesting and employee of the extreme right-winger Peter Theil to an advocate for Palestine? His ‘Road to Damascus’ moment would seem not to have occurred until July 2024, following his election as a local councillor, when he finally sold his Palantir shares. His current story seems quite incredible and warrants much further investigation.”

Greene added: “While the activities of a Mr Hayes-like character could plague any political grouping, it is of the utmost importance that the Social Democrats come forward clearly with statements on when and who in the party knew about this problematic information and how he was selected as a suitable party candidate for the Dáil.”