Michael McNamara is an Independent Teachta Dála (TD) representing the Clare constituency. He has served as a TD since the 2020 general election and previously from 2011 to 2016.
McNamara has held significant positions, including Chairman of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Response and Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Drug Use. He has also been a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
McNamara was first elected as a Labour Party TD for Clare in 2011 but was expelled from the party in 2015 for voting against the government. He rejoined the party later that year but lost his seat in the 2016 general election.
He was re-elected as an Independent candidate in 2020. In April 2024, McNamara announced his candidacy for the European Parliament in the Ireland South constituency, with the election scheduled for June 7, 2024.
McNamara is committed to representing Irish farmers, advocating for respect and support for their contributions to food production in Europe. He emphasizes the need for price transparency in the food chain and protection for family farms against multinational corporations.
Renewable energy is another priority, with McNamara supporting the development of Ireland's offshore wind energy sector and biomethane industry. He also focuses on regional development, advocating for the enhancement of Shannon and regional airports.
McNamara is critical of the government's approach to ceding national sovereignty to Brussels, particularly in justice and immigration matters. He supports using the European Union's influence to address the root causes of mass migration.
McNamara aims to secure funding under the European Green Deal for housing projects, converting upper floors of commercial units into residential spaces. He also advocates for allowing patients on hospital waiting lists in Ireland to receive treatment in other European countries.
Born on March 1, 1974, in Limerick, Ireland, McNamara studied at Scariff Community College, St. Flannan’s, and University College Cork.
He worked as a human rights lawyer with the OSCE and UN in Eastern Europe and Afghanistan before returning to run his family farm in Scarriff and practice as a barrister. McNamara is married to Sarah Jane Hillery, and they have one child.
McNamara is active on social media, where he frequently discusses issues related to agriculture, renewable energy, and national sovereignty. He has a substantial following and uses his platform to engage with constituents and advocate for policies that support local industries and public services.
McNamara's campaign for the European Parliament focuses on key issues such as agriculture, renewable energy, regional development, and national sovereignty. He promises to represent the interests of Irish farmers, support the development of renewable energy sectors, and advocate for policies that benefit local communities in Ireland South.