"Getting To A Level Of Absurdity”: Kildare North TD Questions Backlash Over Israeli Tech Link

Speaking to Kfm, he said military service is compulsory in Israel and asked if it is getting to a stage where "any company that has any links to anybody from Israel that TDs and Senators, maybe, can't be involved in it? We are getting to a level of absurdity here."

Kildare North Fianna Fail TD Naoise Ó Cearúil has issued a public statement addressing reports that he holds over €13,000 in stock in an Israeli-founded AI company with military intelligence ties.

The TD, elected in 2024, worked for U.S.-based software company Gong for two and a half years prior to entering public office. 

The company provides AI-driven sales tools to private sector clients. 

It is a Tel Aviv-founded AI firm .

It was co-founded by two former members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

As part of his employment,  Deputy Ó Cearúil received Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)  - which he said is a common form of compensation in the tech industry. 

Kfm has spoken to Deputy O'Cearúil at lenght, with the full interview due to air on tomorrow morning's Kildare Today show. 

In the interview, he said military service is compulsory in Israel and asked if it is getting to a stage where "any company that has any links to anybody from Israel that TDs and Senators, maybe, can't be involved in it? We are getting to a level of absurdity here."

Deputy O'Cearúil said his RSUs are non-liquid assets and cannot be sold or transferred unless Gong becomes a publicly traded company, which it has not.

"From the outset, I have been fully transparent about this. These RSUs were declared in my ethics statement, which is publicly available and fully compliant with all disclosure requirements," he said.

He added: "I want to state unequivocally: I have never used my position in public office to benefit myself financially, nor have I allowed any personal interest to interfere with my public duties.The Oireachtas Artificial Intelligence Committee was established in 2025, after I had entered public office. Since its establishment, Gong has had no interaction with the committee, has not sought to influence its work, and has not been involved in any government tenders or contracts."

"Gong is a company that provides software solutions primarily to sales teams within other software companies, a highly specific and niche sector. To the best of my knowledge, Gong has not applied for, nor does it currently appear likely to seek, government contracts in Ireland. However, should any situation arise in the future where a potential conflict of interest is identified, I will recuse myself from all related committee discussions or decisions."