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Eoin Hayes readmitted to Social Democrats after suspension

Eoin Hayes readmitted to Social Democrats after suspension

RTÉ News​2 days ago
Dublin Bay South TD Eoin Hayes has been readmitted to the Social Democrats following a near eight-month suspension, the party has said.
Mr Hayes was suspended from the Social Democrats' parliamentary party last December after he confirmed that he sold his shares in software company Palantir Technologies for just under €200,000.
The Social Democrats said he provided incorrect information to the media about the sale of shares in Palantir, his former employer.
Mr Hayes had taken his seat in the Dáil as an Independent.
In a statement this afternoon, Mr Hayes apologised for giving "incorrect information to the media".
He added that he "should not have held the shares" as long as he did.
Speaking this evening, Social Democrats' deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan said he believed Mr Hayes "should be given a second chance".
He said: "Eoin has been suspended from the parliamentary party for nearly eight months and I believe he should be given a second chance.
"Eoin has a lot to offer as a Social Democrats TD and I look forward to working with him."
Mr Hayes had faced questions over his divestment of shares in the company which supplies artificial intelligence tools to the Israeli military.
He said he received 7,000 shares as part of his employment package with the company.
Mr Hayes sold them in July last year for a pre-tax figure of €199,000.
He won the final seat in the Dublin Bay South constituency in the 2024 election in what was a major gain for the party.
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