Michael McNamara was elected to the European Parliament to represent the Ireland South constituency in June 2024.

Michael is Co-Chair of the European Parliament’s Working Group on the Implementation and Enforcement of the AI Act. He serves as a member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and is Co-Rapporteur for the Digital Omnibus on AI. Michael is also a substitute member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and Shadow Rapporteur for the Digital Omnibus.

He is also Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia (DSAS), and substitute member of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly.

Before his election to the European Parliament, Michael represented the Clare constituency as a member of the Irish parliament from 2011 until 2016, and again from 2020 until 2024.

As a national politician, he was appointed Chair of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Response in 2020 and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Drug Use in 2024.

Michael is a barrister and a farmer.