A strong, united left is vital for Ireland’s future, but this unity cannot come at the cost of our core principles. True solidarity is built on a shared ethical foundation and an unwavering commitment to justice. It is from this position that Labour Youth must address the deep-seated concerns surrounding Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes.

This is not a simple matter of political process. The fundamental issue is one of profiting from Palantir, a company deeply implicated in state surveillance, border militarisation, and the technological architecture of human rights abuses, including the ongoing genocide in Palestine. For any representative of the left, profiting from an entity that enables such suffering constitutes a grave ethical failure. Palantir’s activities were reprehensible long before October 7th 2023, and this context cannot be ignored.

The subsequent handling of the situation has only compounded the original failure. The public has been presented with a timeline of contradiction that undermines any claim of genuine accountability.

*   December ’24: Deputy Hayes is suspended from the parliamentary party following the disclosure.

*   February ’25: The Social Democrats’ National Executive concludes its investigation, and the party confirms the suspension will continue “indefinitely.”

*   April ’25: In a formal letter to the Clerk of the Dáil, the party states there were and “remain 11 Social Democrat TDs,” directly contradicting the public suspension.

*   July ’25: The suspension is lifted, implying Deputy Hayes is now being readmitted to a party that officially claimed he never left.

This sequence suggests a process designed to manage political optics rather than confront a serious ethical breach. The focus shifted from the unacceptable nature of the investment to a series of political manoeuvres that have left activists and voters confused and disillusioned. Accountability must mean more than a temporary non-suspension.

For the Irish left, there must be clear ethical red lines. There can be no room for profiting from war, oppression, or state violence. We extend our solidarity to the many Social Democrats members and activists who share these values and campaign tirelessly for a better world. They, and the public, deserve clarity and integrity from their leadership.

Labour Youth reaffirms our commitment to building a political movement defined by its principles. We call for a renewed focus on holding ourselves, and our comrades across the left, to the highest possible standard. Our generation demands and deserves a politics of integrity.