Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald expresses disappointment over Chris Andrews' defeat and Eoin Hayes' victory, highlighting the ethical concerns surrounding Hayes' previous employment with Palantir.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald says it is 'hard to swallow' that Chris Andrews lost his Dail seat to suspended Social Democrat Eoin Hayes. Mr Hayes hit the headlines when it emerged he had worked for US-based software company Palantir, which has supplied software to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Mr Hayes worked for the company eight years ago, but admitted he held onto shares given as part of his compensation package until this year.
During a blistering press conference last month, he told the media over two dozen times that he had sold the shares before he was elected to Dublin City Council on June 7, 2024. Hours after the event, the Social Democrats issued a statement confirming that Mr Hayes had sold the shares in July for €200,000 before tax. He was suspended from the party an hour later, but indicated he will take his seat in the Dail as an Independent. Mr Hayes pulled off a surprise win in Dublin Bay South following November 29’s general election and took Chris Andrews’ seat from him. Ms McDonald said: 'Chris has been an incredible representative for the communities in Dublin Bay South,' she said. 'But also an advocate for Palestine for literally decades. 'For him to miss out so narrowly and then for it to emerge that the person who had won the seat narrowly ahead of him, that they had held these shares and had essentially materially benefited from all of the war crimes that are occurring in Gaza, that’s hard to swallow. 'I wouldn’t go so far as to say I resent it, but I think that’s hard to swallow. 'I would imagine at least a section of the electorate are extremely disappointed, if not angered by that.' Ms McDonald said it would be 'preferable' if Mr Hayes did give up his seat. She continued: 'Yeah, I think he should'
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