“Far too much” – McNamara to Taoiseach, challenging €293 million Irish EU Presidency Spending

Speaking directly to Taoiseach Michael Martin in the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg yesterday, MEP McNamara said that as the Irish Presidency sought agreement on a new multi-annual EU budget it should set an example on public spending. 

“As we assume leadership of the EU budget, we must lead by example. Try to do more with less, not less with more,” he said.

McNamara criticised the overall €293 million cost of the Presidency, a multiple of that spent by other member states on their recent presidencies, telling the Taoiseach: “It’s far too much, Taoiseach. Pull back on it. It’s not necessary.”

Cyprus, who held the Presidency of the Council just before Ireland, had an estimated spend of about €95 million. Denmark, which preceded Cyprus, spent around €80 million. The last Irish Presidency in the straitened times of 2013, widely judged to have been a success had a budget of €42 million, with the overall government spending on it estimated to be about €60 million. The Presidency before that, in 2004, like now, under a Fianna Fáil Taoiseach throwing tax-payers money around, cost more than twice what it could be successfully done for years later. 

McNamara also highlighted the planned €135,000 expenditure on wool scarves, questioning both the cost and the requirement that they be uniquely Irish in character without necessarily being made from Irish wool.

“Included in that is €135,000 on wool scarves to be of a uniquely Irish artistic character, but not necessarily made from Irish wool,” McNamara said.

The Clare-based MEP added: “It is 30 degrees outside, Taoiseach. When it does cool down, everybody here is more than capable of buying their own scarves.”

He also wished the Presidency and the Taoiseach well, saying, in Irish, that it was a personal achievement for Micheál Martin. “The success of the Irish Presidency will be built on long hours by countless Irish civil servants, far from today’s limelight,” McNamara said. “We should remember their work and wish them success as well in their important tasks.”

Michael McNamara Delivers on Pledge to Enact EU-wide “Nudifier” Ban in AI Omnibus

This week, the European Parliament has voted by a broad majority to introduce a ban on AI “nudifier” tools, proposed by Independent MEP Michael McNamara.

The ban, which will come into effect on 2 December of this year, will outlaw AI systems designed to generate fake nude or intimate images of real people without their consent, closing what McNamara identified as a major gap in existing laws.

“Recent controversies involving AI systems, demonstrated there was no clear prohibition on the technology which was being used to generate highly realistic fake nude images of real people, of which the overwhelming majority of victims were women and girls. I pledged to change that when I was appointed as a Rapporteur in the Parliament. Following negotiations with the Council, the passing of this legislation will ensure that this abuse will no longer be allowed.”

The updated rules also extend compliance deadlines for certain high-risk AI systems, giving businesses and public authorities additional time to prepare while maintaining key safeguards.

“Irish companies and SMEs, particularly in the tech and manufacturing sectors, needed certainty. They couldn’t comply with rules when the technical standards hadn’t even been written yet. We’ve fixed that, without removing the protections that make this legislation worth having.”

McNamara said the final agreement strikes a practical balance between encouraging innovation and protecting citizens from harmful uses of artificial intelligence.

“As the capabilities of AI continue to expand at a startling rate, so too does the potential for both good and harm. It is our responsibility to ensure that these technologies are developed and deployed in a way that respects people’s rights and dignity.”

McNamara MEP Calls for Action on Drug Debt Intimidation

Speaking in the European Parliament’s plenary debate on the rights and protection of victims of crime, Independent MEP from Clare, Michael McNamara, called for urgent action at national and European level to support victims of drug debt intimidation, a growing crisis he described as affecting young people across Ireland and, increasingly, across the EU.

MEP McNamara drew attention to the particular vulnerability of young people caught in cycles of drug debt, noting that victims are routinely threatened not to approach police and they comply because they do not believe they will receive protection. He described this pattern as increasingly prevalent right across the Ireland South constituency, is no longer confined to cities and argued it cannot be unique to Ireland as drug use rises across the European Union.

Speaking in the Chamber, McNamara highlighted: “These are often young people who are afraid to seek help. They are told: don’t go to the gardaí. And they don’t, because they don’t believe they will receive protection. We need to find a way instil confidence in people that they will receive protection.”

The scale of the problem at home is stark. Ireland’s first national data report on drug-related intimidation, published this year by D.R.I.V.E. (Drug Related Intimidation & Violence Engagement) and the Health Research Board, recorded over 1000 cases across every county of the State in 2024-2025. Almost two-thirds of victims were living with family members and over one-third of those cases were actively experiencing intimidation at the time they sought help. Drug-related debt was present in over two-thirds of cases, ranging from under €100 to more than €20,000. Nearly three in ten victims endured intimidation for more than a year, and in over a third of cases no support was offered to the individual despite their disclosure.

Responding to this report, McNamara stated: These figures should be a wake-up call for the Government. Over a thousand cases recorded in a single year and that is only what has been disclosed. Behind every one of those cases is a family living in fear. We need properly resourced support services, we need victims to believe they will be protected if they come forward, and we need a serious political commitment to tackling this at home as well as in Europe

MEP McNamara called on the European Commission and member states to treat victims of drug debt intimidation as the victims of crime they are, ensuring access to genuine protection and meaningful support. He argued that as drug use increases across the EU, drug debt enforcement through intimidation and violence is a pan-European problem that demands a coordinated European response alongside robust action at national level.

McNamara Welcomes European Parliament Vote Referring EU–Mercosur Agreement to Court of Justice

Michael McNamara MEP (Ireland / Independent) has welcomed today’s vote in the European Parliament to refer the EU–Mercosur Agreement and Interim Trade Agreement to the Court of Justice of the EU for an opinion on their compatibility with the EU Treaties.

McNamara was a co-signatory to the request for Court’s over sight and voted in favour of the resolution, which was adopted by a narrow margin. The referral suspends parliamentary consent until the Court has ruled, a process expected to take up to two years.

Commenting on the outcome, McNamara said:

“The Mercosur Agreement and Interim Trade Agreement have now been referred to the European Court to test their legality. This is a small but important victory for those who oppose the betrayal of European farmers, and for those who believe that the rule of law must prevail especially in these strange times.” McNamara has consistently raised concerns about the agreement’s legal basis, democratic accountability, and its implications for agricultural standards, environmental protections, and fair competition. He stressed that judicial scrutiny is not an obstruction, but a necessary safeguard to ensure that major international trade agreements fully comply with EU law and Treaty obligations.

McNamara Calls For Free Public Transport in Response to Energy Crisis

Ireland South MEP Michael McNamara has called for the Government to introduce free public transport across Ireland, following the IMF’s warning that “all roads lead to higher prices and slower growth worldwide” should the conflict in the Middle East continue.

“The Government’s call on households to cut fuel use is meaningless unless it concentrates on encouraging the public to use alternatives,” McNamara said. “Public transport needs to be made free for users for the next six months. This would cost up to €275 million, based on a 2023 report commissioned by the National Transport Authority (NTA) from Ernst and Young.

“It must be acknowledged that this is a significant sum of money but it is less than the amount the Government is expecting to spend on the upcoming six-month EU Presidency and is small compared to the billions of euro thrown around by the Government during the Covid era. “Making buses, trams and trains free is a relatively easy measure for the Government to implement and one that will make a difference to ordinary people, as it will result in a new focus on public transport alternatives,” McNamara concluded.

McNamara Leads Cross-Party MEP Letter to EU Foreign Policy Chief Demanding Action After Israeli Military Seizes Civilian Vessels Near Crete

Clare-based MEP Michael McNamara has today led a letter signed by Members of the European Parliament to HR/VP Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, demanding immediate intervention following the seizure by Israeli military forces of civilian vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Crete.

Among those unaccounted for is Irish citizen and Ennis man Martin Guilfoyle, who  is among 7 Irish citizens who were aboard one of the intercepted vessels. His whereabouts and welfare remain unknown. McNamara has also written separately to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Irish Permanent Representative to the EU and the Irish Ambassador in Tel Aviv demanding urgent consular intervention on their behalf.

The letter, backed by MEPs from various different political groups, describes the interception as a serious act of aggression by a foreign military power in European waters, hundreds of miles from Gaza, with no legal or security justification. The co-signatories are calling on Kallas to intervene at the highest diplomatic level, summon the Israeli Head of Mission to the EU, place sanctions on the table, and report urgently to the European Parliament.

McNamara said of the incident: “This is a serious act of aggression by a foreign military in European waters. EU citizens – including  Irish citizens – are unaccounted for. I am not prepared to wait while bureaucratic processes run their course. I am demanding immediate action from Kallas and the EU to act.

The Global Sumud Flotilla departed from Italy on Sunday carrying over 400 civilians from multiple countries on a humanitarian mission to Gaza. Twenty-two of its vessels were intercepted by Israeli military forces on 29 April. The interception took place approximately 600 nautical miles from Gaza which is far beyond any previous Israeli interdiction of a civilian flotilla.

McNamara added “Israel cannot continue to behave like a rogue state without consequences”

AI Omnibus puts end to ‘Nudifiers’
We reached a deal on the AI Act Omnibus. After months of intensive negotiations, I am genuinely relieved and proud of what we have achieved.

The European Union now has its first ever ban on nudification applications. AI systems that generate non-consensual intimate imagery of real people – that strip women naked without their consent, that produce child sexual abuse material, are prohibited under EU law. The European Parliament had a chance to act on a harm that is being industrialised by AI, and we took it.

We secured a stop-the-clock compliance mechanism, giving companies the additional time they need to meet their obligations. We also secured meaningful simplification measures -cutting unnecessary red tape and duplicative compliance burdens, particularly for smaller businesses and SMEs.

And this is on top of protections we fought to ensure remain firmly within the AI Act – mandatory registration of high-risk AI systems, and stronger safeguards for bias detection. These were hard-won in the original Act. We were not prepared to see them traded away in an Omnibus process, and they were not.
Consultation needed to lessen pressure on GP and other essential services from refugee and asylum seeker accommodation

Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has called for ongoing consultation with communities hosting refugees and asylum seekers, in particular for the Government to outline its plans to address the increased strain placed on GP services as a result of the arrival of Ukrainian refugees and international protection applicants, citing his hometown in East Clare as an example.

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Funding boost for Kilrush

I am delighted to learn that €3.5m has been allocated for the redevelopment of a vacant building on the marina in Kilrush into a new Maritime Training Centre.

I have raised this project repeatedly with the Minister for Rural and Community Development and her officials, and I have engaged locally with Cllr Ian Lynch and Clare County Council project officer Brian McCarthy. This project will establish Kilrush and West Clare as an important maritime centre on the west coast of Ireland.

Burren Businesses Recognised for Sustainable Tourism Practices

Great energy at the Falls Hotel & Spa in Ennistymon last night where 58 Burren Ecotourism members were honoured for fulfilling their commitments under the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism. A brilliant project which shows the way forward for sustainable tourism not just in Clare, but also across Ireland.

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VAT reduction on fuel

Independent Clare T.D. Michael McNamara has urged government to temporarily remove VAT on fuel as prices continue to soar across the country.

Speaking tonight (Wednesday) in Dáil Éireann in favour of the Government’s Financial Motion to reduce excise duty on petrol, diesel and green diesel, Deputy McNamara urged Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to follow in the footsteps of Poland by reducing VAT.

The Clare T.D. said rising costs are fast becoming unsustainable for people, especially rural dwellers.

McNamara seeks urgent Government intervention on fertiliser to avoid food price increase

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has said he will be participating in a special meeting of EU agriculture ministers tomorrow (Wednesday) in relation to the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on agriculture and food prices.

Minister McConalogue was responding to Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara who has expressed concern at the impact of rising fertiliser costs on food production and prices in Ireland.

Deputy McNamara claims urgent government intervention is required and has suggested the potential bulk purchase of fertilisers, the subvention of fertilisers, or the introduction of price caps.

Speaking during Questions on Promised Legislation in Dáil Éireann today, Deputy McNamara said, “Irish farmers face a dilemma. Do they borrow money to pay the cost of fertiliser which has more than doubled and hope to pass that on to consumers at the end of the year?  Or do they produce less food which will also result in a rise in consumer food prices at the end of the year?”

“I have no doubt that Ireland will produce more than enough food to feed itself, but I am less confident about Europe, particularly given the lack of supply that will be there from Ukraine which is the breadbasket of Europe,” he added.  “To ward off a horrible scenario where Irish consumers cannot afford the cost of food in Ireland like other European consumers, will the Government intervene by bulk buying fertilisers, subventing it or putting price caps in place? Because we need to intervene now.”

In response, Minister McConalogue commented, “You raise a very fair issue and a fair concern, and something that my department are monitoring very closely.  Also, we are having a special meeting of EU agriculture ministers this Wednesday and it’s something we will be discussing as part of that, as well in the context of the challenges that the unacceptable invasion of Ukraine is resulting in and what that means in terms of both gas, energy, fertiliser and potentially, grain prices.”

UHL overcrowding

Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara today called for an independent investigation into ongoing overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), where a record 111 patients were on trolleys this morning.

Addressing Taoiseach Micheal Martin during Promised legislation in Dáil Éireann today, Deputy McNamara said the exponential growth in trolley numbers at UHL was unlikely to be halted by the introduction of additional beds alone and that consideration should be given to upgrading other hospitals within the UHL Group.

Responding to Deputy McNamara, the Taoiseach said he would request the Minister for Health and the HSE to review the Clare TD’s proposal around the causes of ongoing overcrowding.

Deputy McNamara commented, “There is no clear indication as to why UHL is consistently the most overcrowded hospital in the country. I don’t know whether it is how admissions and discharges are managed in the hospital or if Ennis, Nenagh or St. Johns need to be upgraded to Model 3 Hospitals. An investigation needs to be commissioned without delay.”

Rights of way Bill to be published

The Government has confirmed to Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara that the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill will be published imminently.

Responding to Deputy McNamara in the Dáil last night, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the Bill will begin its passage in the Seanad next week.

Deputy McNamara has previously expressed his support for the short amending Bill that will remove an upcoming deadline to register rights of way.

November 30th had originally been set as a deadline for receipt of applications for a court order to confirm a right by prescription with new rules due to take effect from December 1st.

Deputy McNamara has welcomed the abolition of the deadline proposed under the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2021, which he described as “necessary to prevent stress between neighbours and to avoid a large volume of unnecessary court cases to register rights that have existed for generations.”

“In effect, every right of way dispute in the country, and many cases where there is as yet no dispute, would be brought to a head at the end of November, ending up in divisive Court cases with inevitable resultant legal costs,” the Clare farmer and barrister added.

He continued, “Minister for Justice Heather Humphreys has previously acknowledged there is legal uncertainty about how the new rules may be interpreted in practice, and that it has not yet been possible to register many important prescriptive rights. These difficulties are also causing significant delays in conveyancing, and in mortgage and farm loan applications.”

“The approaching deadline has been a cause of concern for many people, particularly farmers, and it also has been raised with the Minister by the Bar Council and the Law Society of Ireland,” added Deputy McNamara.

Should the short amending Bill successfully pass through the Dáil, as expected, the law applicable to prescriptive easements and profits will largely revert to the judge-made law that applied before the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009. It will still be possible to confirm a prescriptive right, either by applying to court or by registering it directly with the Property Registration Authority. However, this will be optional, as it was before the 2009 Act, rather than a mandatory requirement to avoid losing any rights of way acquired through long use.