Stock In Israeli Founded AI Firm Puts Spotlight On Kildare North TD's Role In Shaping Irish AI Policy

Thursday, 12 June 2025 09:51

By Martin Osborne

Kildare North Fianna Fail TD Naoise Ó Cearúil was recently appointed to the Oireachtas artificial intelligence committee last month by party colleague Malcolm Byrne.

Kildare North Fianna Fail TD Naoise Ó Cearúil, who serves as Fianna Fáil’s AI spokesperson, reportedly holds over €13,000 in stock in an Israeli-founded AI company with military intelligence ties.

He was recently appointed to the Oireachtas artificial intelligence committee last month by party colleague Malcolm Byrne.

According to his Dáil ethics declaration, as highlighted by The Ditch, Ó Cearúil holds restricted stock units in Gong, a Tel Aviv-founded AI firm where he worked from 2022 to 2024.

Gong was co-founded by two former members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), one of whom, Eilon Reshef, claims to have done classified intelligence work for the IDF, the publication said.

One of the company’s biggest investors, Cisco, also sells tech to the Israeli military but it is understood that Ó Cearúil was not aware of Cisco's investments.

“There is no conflict. My ethics declaration is public. If a conflict arises in a session, I will recuse myself," Ó Cearúil told The Ditch.

Kfm has attempted to contact Ó Cearúil this morning for further comment.

According to the The Ditch, he said he is unaware of a way to transfer his restricted stock.

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