Michael McNamara (politician)

Michael McNamara
MEP
McNamara in 2020
Member of the European Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 July 2024
Teachta Dála
In office
February 2020 – 17 July 2024
In office
February 2011 – February 2016
ConstituencyClare
Chairman of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Response
In office
12 May 2020 – 8 October 2020
Preceded byCommittee established
Succeeded byCommittee dissolved
Personal details
Born (1974-03-01) 1 March 1974 (age 50)
Limerick, Ireland
Political party
Other political
affiliations		Labour Party (until 2017)
Spouse
Sarah Jane Hillery
​
(m. 2015)​
Children1
Alma mater

Michael McNamara (born 1 March 1974) is an Irish independent politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the South constituency since July 2024. He was previously a Teachta Dála (TD) for Clare from the 2020 general election to 2024, and from 2011 to 2016.[1]

McNamara contested the 2009 European Parliament election in the North-West constituency as an independent candidate, receiving 12,744 votes (2.6%) and failing to be elected.[2] He was elected as a Labour Party TD for Clare at the 2011 general election.[3] He was a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine,[4] and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 2011 to 2016.[5] McNamara is a barrister and has worked at the OSCE and on human rights and democracy projects of the European Union and United Nations. He was an unsuccessful independent candidate at the 2009 European Parliament election for the North-West constituency.[3]

In May 2015, McNamara was expelled from the parliamentary Labour Party for voting against the government in the sale of Aer Lingus shares, the third time he voted against the government.[6] He rejoined the parliamentary Labour Party in September 2015.[7] He lost his seat at the 2016 general election.[3]

He was elected as an independent candidate for the Clare constituency at the 2020 general election. He was the Chairman of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Response from 12 May to 8 October 2020.[8] McNamara campaigned for a No-No vote in the 2024 referendums on the Family and Care as a member of the Lawyers for No group, alongside fellow barristers Senator Michael McDowell, Maria Steen and Brenda Power.[9][10]

McNamara was elected as an independent MEP for the South constituency at the 2024 European Parliament election.[11] He took office on 17 July 2024.[12] He sits with the Renew Europe parliamentary group.[13]

McNamara is married to Sarah Jane Hillery, the daughter of former president of Ireland Patrick Hillery.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Michael McNamara". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b "McNamara loses the Labour whip - but keeps 'em guessing". Irish Independent. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Michael McNamara". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Membership". Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  5. ^ "PACE Member File". Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Dáil votes for sale of State's Aer Lingus stake to IAG". RTÉ News. 29 May 2013.
  7. ^ Minihan, Mary (16 September 2015). "Michael McNamara set to rejoin Labour Party". The Irish Times.
  8. ^ "Special Committee on Covid-19 Response debate". Houses of the Oireachtas. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  9. ^ Carolan, Mary (29 February 2024). "Lawyers group urges No vote in family and care referendums". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  10. ^ Gleeson, Colin; Horgan-Jones, Jack (10 March 2024). "'We didn't do our job well enough': Minister of State criticises colleagues over referendum campaign". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  11. ^ "European Elections: South". RTÉ News. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  12. ^ Cunningham, Paul (17 June 2024). "The loopholes to avoiding four by-elections". RTÉ News.
  13. ^ De Melo Ponce, Clara (2 July 2024). "The Renew Europe Group welcomes Independent MEP Michael McNamara" (Press release). Renew Europe.