Independent MEP Michael McNamara has today been appointed Rapporteur of the European Parliament on the proposed AI Act Omnibus, the European Commission’s legislative package amending key elements of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act.
The AI Act is considered one of the most consequential digital files currently before the EU, and is the subject of considerable attention from the current US administration. McNamara will assume responsibility for steering the Parliament’s position on proposed changes to timelines, obligations and enforcement mechanisms under the AI Act.
Commenting on his appointment, McNamara, a barrister and former TD for Clare, said:
“Recent controversy involving AI-enabled ‘nudification’ tools highlight the need for regulation in the development of AI. I believe that this warrants closer legislative attention. While such practices raise serious concerns for dignity, privacy, and fundamental rights, they are not currently addressed explicitly in the AI Act’s list of prohibited practices.
“As Rapporteur, I will be exploring whether the non-consensual generation or manipulation of intimate images using AI should be explicitly classified as a prohibited practice, in order to provide legal clarity, strengthen enforcement, and ensure that the AI Act remains responsive to emerging and demonstrably harmful uses of the technology.
McNamara added: “The AI Act was adopted to protect fundamental rights, ensure legal certainty, and create the conditions for responsible innovation in Europe.
“I expect that the Parliament’s scrutiny of the Omnibus will be rigorous and evidence-based the task is to ensure that amendments genuinely simplify implementation without weakening the Act’s core safeguards.
“Speed matters, especially with high-risk AI deadlines in August 2026, which the legislation seeks to delay before they come into effect to give member states and affected companied more time to prepare for implementation. However, urgency cannot replace evidence, transparency, or accountability.”
McNamara, who is Co-Chair of the European Parliament’s Joint IMCO–LIBE Working Group on the Implementation and Enforcement of the AI Act since joining the parliament, said that his approach as Rapporteur would focus on legal certainty, proportionality, and enforceability, while ensuring that Europe remains both competitive and trusted in the global AI landscape.
“If the EU wants to remain a global standard-setter on artificial intelligence, it must show confidence in its regulatory framework and ensure that innovation is supported by clarity, enforcement credibility, and public trust.”
Work on the file will now proceed in the responsible parliamentary committees, with McNamara leading negotiations for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs with shadow rapporteurs from across the political spectrum and engaging closely with the European Commission, Council, national authorities, industry, and civil society stakeholders.