View source for Clare Daly

{{short description|Irish politician (born 1968)}}
{{distinguish|text=the musician, [[Claire Daly]]}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Clare Daly, November 2023 (headshot).jpg
| caption             = Daly in 2023
| office              = [[Member of the European Parliament]]
| term_start          = 2 July 2019
| term_end            = 17 July 2024
| constituency        = [[Dublin (European Parliament constituency)|Dublin]]
| office1             = [[Teachta Dála]]
| term_start1         = [[2016 Irish general election|February 2016]]
| term_end1           = [[2019 European Parliament election in Ireland|July 2019]]
| constituency1       = [[Dublin Fingal (Dáil constituency)|Dublin Fingal]]
| term_start2         = [[2011 Irish general election|February 2011]]
| term_end2           = [[2016 Irish general election|February 2016]]
| constituency2       = [[Dublin North (Dáil constituency)|Dublin North]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1968|4|16|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Newbridge, County Kildare|Newbridge]], [[County Kildare]], Ireland
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = {{ubl|Ireland: [[Independents 4 Change]]|[[European Union|EU]]: [[The Left in the European Parliament|The Left]]}}
| otherparty          = {{ubl|[[United Left (Ireland)|United Left]] (2013–2015)|[[Socialist Party (Ireland)|Socialist Party]] (1996–2012)|[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] (until 1989)}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|Michael Murphy|1999|end=sep}}
| children            = 1
| alma_mater          = [[Dublin City University]]
| website             = {{URL|claredaly.ie}}|
}}

'''Clare Daly''' (born 16 April 1968) is an Irish politician who was a [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) from [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] for the [[Dublin (European Parliament constituency)|Dublin]] constituency from July 2019 to July 2024. She is a member of [[Independents 4 Change]], affiliated to [[The Left in the European Parliament]].

In the 1980s, Daly was a member of the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] as a teenager, but was later expelled alongside other members after they were accused of being [[Trotskyist]]s infiltrating the party using the tactic of [[entryism]]. She went on to be a founding member of "Militant Labour", later renamed the [[Socialist Party (Ireland)|Socialist Party]]. In 1999 she was elected to [[Fingal County Council]], a position she held for 12 years. Daly was elected as a Socialist Party [[Teachta Dála|TD]] for the [[Dublin North (Dáil constituency)|Dublin North]] constituency at the [[2011 Irish general election|2011 general election]].<ref name=oireachtas_db>{{cite web |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Clare-Daly.D.2011-03-09/ |title=Clare Daly |work=Oireachtas Members Database |access-date=26 March 2011 |archive-date=7 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107010621/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Clare-Daly.D.2011-03-09 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2012, Daly has had a close political association with [[Mick Wallace]].<ref name="The Phoenix" /> After the Socialist Party condemned Wallace for tax evasion, Daly left the party in August 2012<ref name="The Phoenix">{{cite magazine |title=Profile: Clare Daly TD |url=https://www.thephoenix.ie/article/profile-clare-daly-td/ |magazine=[[The Phoenix (magazine)|The Phoenix]] |date=2 May 2019 |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184711/https://www.thephoenix.ie/article/profile-clare-daly-td/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Grant |first=Adrian |date=21 October 2021 |title=Column: Troubles over Mick Wallace follow a long line of left-wing splits |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/left-wing-splits-ireland-640722-Oct2012/ |work=[[TheJournal.ie]] |access-date=7 July 2022 |quote=The fallout from technical group member Mick Wallace's tax affairs has seen Clare Daly resign from the Socialist Party}}</ref> and formed [[United Left (Ireland)|United Left]].<ref name=RTE_01092012>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0901/clare-daly-socialist-party.html |title=Clare Daly resigns from the Socialist Party |publisher=[[RTÉ News]] |date=1 September 2012 |access-date=1 September 2012 |archive-date=5 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105045650/http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0901/clare-daly-socialist-party.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

After becoming an MEP, Daly gained international attention for her foreign policy positions, particularly on [[Russia]]. Describing herself as an opponent of "EU militarism",<ref>{{cite news |title=Viktor Orban, Gaza, and an EU-wide definition of rape: Irish MEPs' top concerns going into 2024 |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-mep-priorities-2024-6254801-Dec2023/ |work=[[TheJournal.ie]] |date=29 December 2023}}</ref> her views have been the subject of controversy and criticism in Europe, but have been promoted by state-controlled media in Russia, [[China]], [[Iran]], [[Syria]], and other [[authoritarian]] states.<ref name="O'Leary"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bielenberg |first1=Kim |title=Mick Wallace and Clare Daly — the 'anti-imperialists' who defended Putin |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/big-read-mick-wallace-and-clare-daly-the-anti-imperialists-who-defended-putin/41407535.html |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=4 February 2022}}</ref> Daly lost her seat in the [[2024 European Parliament election in Ireland|2024 European Parliament election]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Gataveckaite |first=Gabija |date=2024-06-11 |title=Clare Daly has lost her seat as an MEP in Dublin after Bríd Smith's transfers failed to get her ahead in the race |url=https://www.independent.ie/videos/clare-daly-has-lost-her-seat-as-an-mep-in-dublin-after-brid-smiths-transfers-failed-to-get-her-ahead-in-the-race/a973749636.html |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref> She was a candidate in [[Dublin Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin Central]] in the [[2024 Irish general election|2024 general election]] but was eliminated on the 4th count.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clare Daly to switch constituency and run as Dublin Central candidate |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/10/24/clare-daly-to-switch-constituency-and-run-as-dublin-central-candidate/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Daly is from [[Newbridge, County Kildare|Newbridge]], [[County Kildare]]. Her father, Kevin Daly, was a [[colonel]] in the [[Irish Army]], where he was Director of Signals. She is an [[Atheism|atheist]], while her brother and an uncle are [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] priests.<ref name=SI_090912>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/maeve-sheehan-how-firebrand-clare-left-the-socialists-reeling-3223587.html |title=How firebrand Clare left the Socialists reeling |date=9 September 2012 |newspaper=[[Sunday Independent (Ireland)|Sunday Independent]] |location=Dublin |issn=0039-5218 |access-date=9 September 2012 |archive-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012202930/http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/maeve-sheehan-how-firebrand-clare-left-the-socialists-reeling-3223587.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Daly studied accountancy at [[Dublin City University]] (DCU).<ref name="SI_090912" /> She was twice elected president of the [[DCU Students' Union|Students' Union]] and was active in the students' movement as a campaigner for [[abortion rights]] and information. On leaving college she took a job in the catering section of [[Aer Lingus]] on a low wage,<ref name="SI_090912" /> and became [[SIPTU]]'s shop steward at [[Dublin Airport]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2012-07-22 |title=The social lives of the Socialists |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/the-social-lives-of-the-socialists/26878496.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref>

==Early political career==
Daly initially joined the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]], where she was elected to the party's Administrative Committee as a youth representative. A member of Labour's Militant Tendency, she was expelled from the party in 1989 alongside [[Joe Higgins (politician)|Joe Higgins]] and other supporters of the faction after they were accused of being [[Trotskyist]]s infiltrating the party using the tactic of [[entryism]].<ref>{{multiref2
| 1 = {{cite book |last=Dunphy |first=Richard |author-link= |date=2016 |title=Europe's Radical Left: From Marginality to the Mainstream? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B-LaDwAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Rowman and Littlefield International |chapter=Struggling for Coherence: Irish Radical Left and Nationalist Responses to the Austerity Crisis |page=197 |isbn= 978-1-78348-537-6|quote=The Socialist Party took its present name in 1996, prior to which it was known as Militant Labour (and before that, the Militant Tendency). Like its British sister-organisation, the Irish Militant Tendency was expelled from the Labour Party for 'entryism' in 1989.}}
| 2 = {{cite magazine |title=Profile: Clare Daly TD |url=https://www.thephoenix.ie/article/profile-clare-daly-td/ |magazine=[[The Phoenix (magazine)|The Phoenix]] |date=2 May 2019 |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184711/https://www.thephoenix.ie/article/profile-clare-daly-td/ |url-status=live}}
| 3 = {{cite news |author=[[Deaglán de Bréadún]] |date=4 October 1996 |title=Socialist Party labours to shed militant image |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/socialist-party-labours-to-shed-militant-image-1.92199 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |location= |access-date=19 January 2024}}
| 4 = {{cite news |last= |first= |date=12 March 1989 |title=Labour Expel Militant Tendency |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/collections/news/21320212-labour-expel-militant-tendancy/ |work=[[RTÉ News]] |location= |access-date=19 January 2024}}
| 5 = {{cite news |last=Coulter |first=Oisín |date=6 February 2020 |title=The PBP/Solidarity explainer: from Campaigns to Revolution |url=https://villagemagazine.ie/the-pbp-solidarity-explainer-from-campaigns-to-revolution/ |work=[[Village (magazine)|Village]] |location= |access-date=19 January 2024}}
| 6 = {{cite web |date=22 July 2012 |title=The Social lives of the Socialists |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/the-social-lives-of-the-socialists/26878496.html |access-date=19 January 2024 |work=Irish Independent}}
}}</ref> At first calling themselves Militant Labour, in 1996 they formed the [[Socialist Party (Ireland)|Socialist Party]].<ref name="The Phoenix"/><ref name="DdB 1996">{{cite news |author=[[Deaglán de Bréadún]] |date=4 October 1996 |title=Socialist Party labours to shed militant image |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/socialist-party-labours-to-shed-militant-image-1.92199 |newspaper=The Irish Times |location= |access-date=19 January 2024}}</ref>

===County councillor (1999 to 2011)===
Daly was elected for the [[Swords, County Dublin|Swords]] area at the [[1999 Fingal County Council election]]. She was re-elected at the [[2004 Irish local elections|2004 local elections]] and the [[2009 Irish local elections|2009 local elections]], topping the poll on both occasions.<ref name="elecs_irl" />

In 2003, Daly was jailed for a month, alongside 21 others from the [[Anti-Bin Tax Campaign]] for breaching a [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]] order preventing protests leading to obstruction of the council's non-collection policy for those not paying bin charges.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/jail-sentences-for-joe-higgins-and-clare-daly-114124.html |title=Jail sentences for Joe Higgins and Clare Daly |work=Breakingnews.ie |date=19 September 2003 |access-date=28 October 2011 |archive-date=15 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215234535/http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/jail-sentences-for-joe-higgins-and-clare-daly-114124.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/td-and-councillor-risk-jail-in-bin-tax-protest-205360.html |title=TD and councillor risk jail in bin tax protest |last=Managh |first=Ray |date=18 September 2003 |newspaper=Irish Independent |location=Dublin |issn=0021-1222 |access-date=23 February 2015 |archive-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411121339/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/td-and-councillor-risk-jail-in-bin-tax-protest-25931284.html |url-status=live}}</ref> in 2011, she announced that she would not register to pay a new household charge brought in as part of the latest austerity budget, calling it "reprehensible", and telling [[Phil Hogan]], the minister responsible, in the Dáil: "You can't bring everyone to court".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/higgins-urges-public-to-boycott-unjust-e100-household-charge-304193-Dec2011/ |title=Higgins urges public to boycott 'unjust' €100 Household Charge |first=Gavan |last=Reilly |date=14 December 2011 |work=[[TheJournal.ie]] |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=14 December 2011 |archive-date=7 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107234355/http://www.thejournal.ie/higgins-urges-public-to-boycott-unjust-e100-household-charge-304193-Dec2011/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1214/breaking3.html |title=Kenny defends household charge |first1=Marie |last1=O'Halloran |first2=Michael |last2=O'Regan |date=14 December 2011 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=14 December 2011 |archive-date=14 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214184441/https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1214/breaking3.html |url-status=live}}</ref> She was an organiser of the Anti-Water charges campaign in Swords in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manning |first1=John |title=Angry water protest packs Swords streets |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/angry-water-protest-packs-swords-streets-30716581.html |newspaper=Fingal Independent |date=4 November 2014 |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709192910/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/angry-water-protest-packs-swords-streets-30716581.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

She first ran for a seat in [[Dáil Éireann]] at the [[1997 Irish general election|1997 general election]], receiving 7.2% on that occasion and 8.2% at the [[1998 Dublin North by-election]]. At the [[2002 Irish general election|2002 general election]] she received 5,501 votes (12.5%), narrowly missing a seat. At the [[2007 Irish general election|2007 general election]] she received 9% of the vote.<ref name="elecs_irl" />

==Teachta Dála (2011 to 2019)==
She was eventually elected to Dáil Éireann at the [[2011 Irish general election|2011 general election]], taking 15.2% of the first preference vote.<ref name=elecs_irl>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=336|title=Clare Daly|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=28 March 2011|archive-date=12 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312182613/http://electionsireland.org//candidate.cfm?ID=336|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0228/1224291015357.html |title=Higgins pledges to build new party of left as five elected under ULA banner |date=28 February 2011 |first=Mary |last=Minihan |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=5 March 2011 |archive-date=5 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305082502/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0228/1224291015357.html |url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[2011 Irish presidential election|presidential election campaign]] later that year, Daly and [[Joe Higgins (politician)|Joe Higgins]] supported the nomination of independent candidate [[David Norris (politician)|David Norris]] in his search for the 20 Oireachtas members necessary for inclusion on the ballot paper.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0919/1224304355542.html |title=Boost for Norris as left-wing TDs to support nomination |date=19 September 2011 |first=Cían |last=Nihill |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=19 September 2011 |archive-date=19 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919130100/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0919/1224304355542.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2012, it was reported that she would introduce a bill to provide for limited access to abortion where there is "real and substantial risk to the life" of the pregnant woman, in line with the [[X Case]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0217/breaking44.html |title=Abortion legislation to be tabled |date=17 February 2012 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=19 February 2012 |archive-date=18 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218134913/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0217/breaking44.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The bill was defeated before its second reading on 19 April 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Abortion in Ireland |url=https://www.ifpa.ie/advocacy/abortion-in-ireland-legal-timeline/ |website=[[Irish Family Planning Association]] |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506142019/https://www.ifpa.ie/advocacy/abortion-in-ireland-legal-timeline/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, Daly, Higgins and [[Joan Collins (politician)|Joan Collins]] used travel expenses to cover expenses related to their attendance at anti-household charge meetings around the country. Daly described the dispute over this as a "smear campaign", saying that legal advice was being sought as there was a lack of clarity around the issue and that she would refund any money that was used inappropriately.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0703/legal-advice-td-expense.html |title=Legal advice sought on TD expenses claims |work=[[RTÉ News]] |date=4 July 2012 |access-date=4 July 2012 |archive-date=5 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705222352/http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0703/legal-advice-td-expense.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2012/0704/ireland/dail-seeks-legal-advice-on-td-expenses-claims-199564.html |title=Dáil seeks legal advice on TD expenses claims |first=Juno |last=McEnroe |date=4 July 2012 |newspaper=Irish Examiner |issn=1393-9564 |location=Cork |language=en-IE |access-date=4 July 2012 |archive-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116210335/https://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2012/0704/ireland/dail-seeks-legal-advice-on-td-expenses-claims-199564.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/expenses-not-for-tds-to-travel-to-protests-leinster-house-3158419.html |title=Expenses not for TD's to travel to protests – Leinster House |first=Michael |last=Brennan |date=4 July 2012 |newspaper=Irish Independent |location=Dublin |issn=0021-1222 |access-date=5 July 2012 |archive-date=6 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706232342/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/expenses-not-for-tds-to-travel-to-protests-leinster-house-3158419.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-03 |title=Socialist Party: Travel expenses dispute a 'smear campaign' |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30557764.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref>{{update inline|date=February 2021}}

[[File:Clare Daly.jpg|thumb|Daly on 14 January 2012]]

In June of that same year, Daly refused to call for the resignation of her friend and political ally [[Mick Wallace]] in the wake of his VAT controversy.{{Clarify|reason=Explain the controversy.|date=June 2025}}<ref>''Irish Independent'', Weekend Review, 16 June 2012, p. 3</ref> It was reported by the ''Evening Herald'' that the [[United Left Alliance]], of which the Socialist Party was part, were to confront her over this stance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.herald.ie/news/wallace-no-longer-on-speaking-terms-with-his-former-pals-in-the-technical-group-3150982.html |title=Wallace no longer on speaking terms with his former pals in the technical group |first=Niall |last=O'Connor |date=26 June 2012 |newspaper=[[Evening Herald]] |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=27 June 2012 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923013108/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/news/wallace-no-longer-on-speaking-terms-with-his-former-pals-in-the-technical-group-28011401.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Daly resigned from the Socialist Party on 31 August 2012.<ref name=RTE_01092012/> In a statement, the Socialist Party said "it believed Ms Daly had resigned because she placed more value on her political connection with Independent TD Mick Wallace than on the political positions and work of the Socialist Party."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0901/breaking17.html |title=Daly resigns from Socialist Party |first=Aoife |last=Carr |date=1 September 2012 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=1 September 2012|archive-date=1 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901160435/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0901/breaking17.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Daly described the claim as "absolute nonsense" and said that she had not called for Wallace's resignation because the Socialist Party had not called for his resignation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0902/row-over-daly-resignation-continues.html |title=Clare Daly denies exit from Socialist Party linked to Mick Wallace |publisher=[[RTÉ News]] |date=2 September 2012 |access-date=3 September 2012 |archive-date=4 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904232909/http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0902/row-over-daly-resignation-continues.html |url-status=live}}</ref> She requested a share of the €120,000 Socialist Party's Leaders Allowance to allow her to continue to fund her activities as an Independent TD.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0903/breaking6.html |title=Daly departure to hit allowances |first=Tim |last=O'Brien |date=3 September 2012 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=3 September 2012 |archive-date=3 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903172151/https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0903/breaking6.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2013, along with another TD, [[Joan Collins (politician)|Joan Collins]], she founded a new political party called [[United Left (Ireland)|United Left]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/united-left-new-political-party-882971-Apr2013 |title=Two TDs setting up new United Left political party |last=O'Connell |first=Hugh |date=25 April 2013 |work=[[TheJournal.ie]] |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |publisher=Distilled Media |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-date=28 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428001524/http://www.thejournal.ie/united-left-new-political-party-882971-Apr2013/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the [[39th G8 summit]], Daly accused the [[Fine Gael]]–[[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour]] government of "prostituting" the country to US President [[Barack Obama]] and criticised what she described as media and political "slobbering" over his wife [[Michelle Obama|Michelle]] and their children during their stay in Ireland. She also called Obama a hypocrite and a war criminal for speaking about peace whilst using [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|drone]]s to bomb foreign civilians and wanting to supply weapons to [[Syrian civil war|Syrian rebels]]. [[Taoiseach]] [[Enda Kenny]] responded to her comments, saying they were "disgraceful" and "beneath you" since President Obama had supported peace in [[Northern Ireland]].<ref>{{cite news |title='Ireland prostituted to Obamas' rages Clare Daly |first=Fiach |last=Kelly |url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ireland-prostituted-to-obamas-rages-clare-daly-29357554.html |newspaper=Irish Independent |location=Dublin |issn=0021-1222 |date=19 June 2013|access-date=23 June 2013|archive-date=20 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620004655/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ireland-prostituted-to-obamas-rages-clare-daly-29357554.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news |title=We were showcased as a 'nation of pimps' during Obama visit – Daly: TD says she wouldn't have been surprised to have seen ministers dressed up in leprechaun hats |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/clare-daly-obamas-dail-957439-Jun2013/ |date=19 June 2013 |work=[[TheJournal.ie]] |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=19 June 2013 |archive-date=22 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622015529/http://www.thejournal.ie/clare-daly-obamas-dail-957439-Jun2013/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ireland 'pimped out like prostitutes' to 'war criminal' Obama |url=http://politico.ie/politics/ireland-pimped-out-prostitutes-war-criminal-obama |date=19 June 2013 |work=politico.ie |access-date=23 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223025256/http://politico.ie/politics/ireland-pimped-out-prostitutes-war-criminal-obama |archive-date=23 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite video |people=Daly, C.; Kenny, E. |date=19 June 2013 |title=Leaders Questions on the G8 and the visit of the Obamas to Ireland |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_-Ie6JQquM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/M_-Ie6JQquM |archive-date=19 December 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=15 July 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Unquestionable adoration of Obama is ludicrous |first=Clare |last=Daly |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/unquestionable-adoration-of-obama-is-ludicrous-234764.html |date=21 June 2013 |newspaper=Irish Examiner |issn=1393-9564 |location=Cork |language=en-IE |access-date=23 June 2013 |archive-date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223034113/http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/unquestionable-adoration-of-obama-is-ludicrous-234764.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Clare Daly, Irish Politician, Slams Obama As 'War Criminal' In Parliament |first=Sabrina |last=Siddiqui |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/21/clare-daly-obama-war-criminal_n_3479158.html |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=21 June 2013 |access-date=24 June 2013 |archive-date=23 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623104057/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/21/clare-daly-obama-war-criminal_n_3479158.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2013, Daly was arrested after taking an illegal turn while driving, under suspicion of [[Drunk driving|drink driving]].<ref name="irishtimes.com">{{Cite web |title=Clare Daly arrest details leaked in ‘unauthorised manner’ |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/clare-daly-arrest-details-leaked-in-unauthorised-manner-1.2652506 |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> Daly admitted to having consumed a [[Hot toddy|hot whiskey]], but a urine test found that she was below the legal alcohol limit for driving.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-02-08 |title=Clare Daly: I've been cleared of drink-driving |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30584090.html |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref> In 2016, an investigation by the [[Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission]] found that details of Daly's arrest had been leaked in an unauthorised manner, and that Daly's right to privacy had been breached.<ref name="irishtimes.com"/>

In the aftermath of the [[November 2015 Paris attacks]], Daly criticised [[Simon Coveney]]'s willingness to send Irish troops to [[Mali]] to allow French troops to concentrate on domestic security, stating the Government had "an incredibly fluid interpretation of what it means to be a neutral country". Daly said "Reference has been made to France being better placed and France having a right to defend its citizens. Precisely contradictory remarks were made when Russia engaged in the same reprehensible actions by bombing Syria in response to attacks on Russia. The West said Russia should not be doing that because it was endangering its citizens. That was correct for Russia but it is also correct for France". Coveney accused Daly of attempting to shift blame for the attacks from the perpetrators and onto France itself and other European countries. Coveney said: "The suggestion in this House that we should be looking at ourselves to blame for what happened on the streets of Paris is reprehensible. France has an obligation to defend itself".<ref>{{cite news |last=Doyle |first=Kevin |date=24 November 2015 |title=Defence Minister accuses Clare Daly of blaming Paris attack on politicians rather than 'madmen' |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/defence-minister-accuses-clare-daly-of-blaming-paris-attack-on-politicians-rather-than-madmen-34231147.html |newspaper=Irish Independent |location= |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713070732/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/defence-minister-accuses-clare-daly-of-blaming-paris-attack-on-politicians-rather-than-madmen-34231147.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2015, Daly along with independent TDs Mick Wallace and [[Maureen O'Sullivan (politician)|Maureen O'Sullivan]] each put forward offers of a €5,000 surety for a 23-year-old man being prosecuted under terrorism legislation in the [[Special Criminal Court]] in Dublin, charged with membership of the terrorist [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hickey |first=Daniel |title=Mick Wallace and Clare Daly among sureties on bail application for man arrested on IRA and explosive charges |url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/mick-wallace-and-clare-daly-among-sureties-on-bail-application-for-man-arrested-on-ira-and-explosive-charges-34296361.html |date=17 December 2015 |newspaper=Irish Independent |location=Dublin |issn=0021-1222 |access-date=18 December 2015 |archive-date=18 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218075944/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/mick-wallace-and-clare-daly-among-sureties-on-bail-application-for-man-arrested-on-ira-and-explosive-charges-34296361.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

At the [[2016 Irish general election|2016 general election]], she stood as an [[Independents 4 Change]] candidate in the [[Dublin Fingal (Dáil constituency)|Dublin Fingal]] constituency, and was elected.<ref name="thejournal">{{cite web |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/election-2016/party/47/independents-4-change/ |title=General election 2016: Independents 4 Change |work=[[TheJournal.ie]] |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=15 February 2016 |archive-date=2 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302014821/http://www.thejournal.ie/election-2016/party/47/independents-4-change/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018 Daly, Wallace, Maureen O’Sullivan and [[Catherine Connolly]] went on a visit to [[Damascus]], [[Maaloula]] and [[Aleppo]] in [[Syria]].<ref name="Syrian trip 2018">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=12 July 2018 |title=‘What you see in Syria is absolutely awful – and not how it’s shown in the West’ |url=https://dublingazette.com/dublinlocalmatters/syria-absolutely-awful-shown-west-47499/ |work= |location= |publisher= |access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref> While there, Clare Daly said "[Syrians] feel that they are the victims primarily of Israeli, Saudi, American and Turkish interference". She said Ireland should be neutral in international affairs and not allow Shannon Airport to be used by the US military, which "has been a contributing factor to the destabilisation of Afghanistan, and Iraq, and all the refugees that have flown from that".<ref name="Syrian trip 2018"/>

==Member of the European Parliament (2019 to 2024)==
[[File:Clare Daly (48836562062).jpg|thumb|Daly on 3 October 2019]]
At the [[2019 European Parliament election in Ireland|2019 European Parliament elections]], she was elected for the [[Dublin (European Parliament constituency)|Dublin]] constituency. She received 42,305 first preference votes (11.6%) and took the third seat.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Jennifer |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/clare-daly-says-she-will-rattle-the-cages-in-europe-1.3907599 |title=Clare Daly says she will 'rattle the cages' in Europe |date=28 May 2019 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=20 June 2019 |archive-date=29 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529054505/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/clare-daly-says-she-will-rattle-the-cages-in-europe-1.3907599 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Times'', that year, described Daly as "one of the busiest Irish members in the European parliament this term".<ref name="times221219">{{cite news |last=Coyle |first=Colin |date=22 December 2019 |title=Clare Daly hires ex-husband Michael Murphy as European parliament aide |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/clare-daly-hires-ex-husband-michael-murphy-as-european-parliament-aide-mvl8qx5dv |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102220910/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clare-daly-hires-ex-husband-michael-murphy-as-european-parliament-aide-mvl8qx5dv |archive-date=2 November 2020 |access-date=10 February 2021 |newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]]}}</ref>

''The Irish Times'' reported in April 2022 that, after becoming MEPs, Daly and Wallace were given high profiles in the state-controlled media of authoritarian states such as Russia, China, Iran and Syria. The report said "they are presented as important international figures who confirm regime positions". Daly had been featured in more Chinese-language news articles than any other Irish person, followed by Wallace.<ref name="O'Leary"/>

In the [[2024 European Parliament election in Ireland|2024 European Parliament elections]], she was endorsed by celebrities, [[Susan Sarandon]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=James |title=Susan Sarandon endores Mick Wallace and Clare Daly |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/susan-sarandon-endorses-mick-wallace-and-clare-daly-1729948 |access-date=30 May 2024 |publisher=NEWSTALK |date=29 May 2024}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Rory |last2=O'Carroll |first2=Lisa |date=2024-06-11 |title=Controversial Dublin MEP candidate Clare Daly loses seat despite celebrity backing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/11/controversial-dublin-mep-candidate-clare-daly-loses-seat-despite-celebrity-backing |access-date=2024-06-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> and [[Annie Lennox]].<ref name=":2" /> She lost her seat at this election, with 26,855 (7.1%) first preference votes.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/11/controversial-dublin-mep-candidate-clare-daly-loses-seat-despite-celebrity-backing|title=Controversial Dublin MEP candidate Clare Daly loses seat despite celebrity backing|publisher=The Guardian}}</ref> Following her defeat, Daly wrote on [[Twitter|X]]: "I have been honoured to have been able to use this platform as a powerful voice for peace, antimilitarism and neutrality. This result is not a rejection of those ideas. It is a testament to the success and reach of the work we’ve done that the establishment came out in such force to harm my chance of reelection. Electoral politics is always only a platform to organise form. That organisation is going on in communities, workplaces, and universities all over Europe. We will continue to fight." 
While leaving the count centre, she was caught on camera declining an interview with [[RTÉ]], telling the reporter: "You've no interest in talking to me for five years, so I’ve no interest in talking to you."<ref>{{cite news|title = Journalists call out Clare Daly as she refuses to talk to RTÉ after losing MEP seat|url = https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/national-news/1527016/journalists-call-out-clare-daly-as-she-refuses-to-talk-to-rte-after-losing-mep-seat.html|work = Limerick Leader|date = 11 June 2024|access-date = 30 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Clare Daly snubs RTÉ after losing her seat in European Parliament elections|url = https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/clare-daly-snubs-rte-election-33008801|work = Irish Mirror|date = 11 June 2024|access-date = 30 November 2024}}</ref>

===Nepotism and bullying allegations===
In December 2019, ''[[The Times]]'' reported that Daly had appointed her former husband, Michael Murphy, as a European Parliamentary Assistant. The rules in the European Parliament prohibit the employment of "spouses or stable non-marital partners". Daly previously employed the son of fellow Independents4Change MEP Mick Wallace. In September 2020, a former parliamentary assistant of Daly, who had worked for her for over seven years and was her election agent in the 2016 general election, accused her of mistreatment and of having "no respect for workers' rights".<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Justine |date=13 September 2020 |title=Clare Daly had no respect for her own workers' rights, says former aide Rhona McCord |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/clare-daly-had-no-respect-for-her-own-workers-rights-says-former-aide-rhona-mccord-qkjrspgpc |newspaper=[[The Times]] |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713070732/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clare-daly-had-no-respect-for-her-own-workers-rights-says-former-aide-rhona-mccord-qkjrspgpc |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Visit to Popular Mobilization Forces headquarters===
[[File:Clare Daly in Iraq.png|thumb|right|Daly during her appearance in a promotional video released by the [[Popular Mobilization Forces]]]]
In April 2021, Daly and Wallace were called "embarrassments to Ireland" by Fianna Fáil's [[Malcolm Byrne]] after the two MEPs travelled to [[Iraq]] and visited the headquarters of the [[Popular Mobilization Forces]] (called ''Hashed al-Shaabi'' in Arabic), an Iraqi state-sponsored paramilitary network supported by [[Iran]] whose militias are accused of war crimes.<ref name="irishexaminer-2021-04-09">{{cite news |last=Loughlin |first=Elaine |date=9 April 2021 |title=Mick Wallace and Clare Daly defend visit to Iraqi militia HQ |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40262480.html |newspaper=Irish Examiner |issn=1393-9564 |location=Cork |language=en-IE |access-date=13 April 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413023609/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40262480.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Daly was interviewed on camera and praised the PMF's activities, saying it "upholds international law" unlike "the United States and many European countries". The interview was then used in a promotional video by the organization.<ref name="thejournal-2021-04-08">{{cite news |last=Raymond |first=Shane |date=8 April 2021 |title=Footage of Irish MEPs in Iraq used in YouTube video promoting a militia group |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/clare-daly-mick-wallace-iraq-5403434-Apr2021/ |work=[[TheJournal.ie]] |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-date=7 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707084259/https://www.thejournal.ie/clare-daly-mick-wallace-iraq-5403434-Apr2021/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Byrne alleged that the PMF has "lured gay people to their deaths" and that Daly and Wallace allowed "themselves to be used as propaganda tools".<ref name="irishexaminer-2021-04-09" /> Following a 2024 [[Human Rights Watch]] report which stated the militia was involved in abductions, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and the targeting of LGBTQ+ people, Daly defended her 2021 comments and dismissed the report as a "complete misrepresentation".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-27 |title=Clare Daly defends 2021 video appearance praising Iraqi militia that was denounced in human rights report |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/clare-daly-defends-2021-video-appearance-praising-iraqi-militia-that-was-denounced-in-human-rights-report/a971927531.html |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref>

After returning from Iraq, Daly said a priority for a number of Iraqi politicians was the departure of US military forces. She said that, since the Iraqi parliament voted in favour of an [[Withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq (2020–2021)|American troop withdrawal]], US forces were "an [[occupying power]], so in that sense they're fair game. Under international law they're a [[legitimate target]]".<ref name="Left tensions"/>

===Russia and Ukraine===
Daly has consistently voted against resolutions that have been critical of [[Russia under Vladimir Putin|Vladimir Putin's Russia]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Irish MEPs among the least critical of Russia - report |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0623/1306432-europe-report/ |work=RTÉ News |date=23 June 2022}}</ref> She said that, while she has not supported [[Vladimir Putin]], she is "an unapologetic opponent of the rampant Russophobia that prevails and only benefits the [[military-industrial complex]]".<ref name="IrishTimes Jan 2022">{{cite news |last=Horgan-Jones |first=Jack |date=26 January 2022 |title=Russia's mobilisation along Ukraine border is 'clearly defensive', Wallace and Daly say |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/russia-s-mobilisation-along-ukraine-border-is-clearly-defensive-wallace-and-daly-say-1.4786363 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=24 February 2022 |archive-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127120059/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/russia-s-mobilisation-along-ukraine-border-is-clearly-defensive-wallace-and-daly-say-1.4786363 |url-status=live}}</ref> A clip from a European parliament speech by Daly was broadcast on Russian state media [[Rossiya 1]] and [[Channel One Russia]], where a presenter and a guest said it was "evidence that western politicians were coming around to the Kremlin point of view on the Ukraine invasion".<ref name="O'Leary">{{cite news |last=O'Leary |first=Naomi |title=How Clare Daly and Mick Wallace became stars of authoritarian state media |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/how-clare-daly-and-mick-wallace-became-stars-of-authoritarian-state-media-1.4854028 |access-date=18 April 2022 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> For her statements about the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the [[Security Service of Ukraine]] added Daly to a list of public figures it regards as spreading [[Disinformation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine#Russian themes|Russian disinformation]] and propaganda. Daly responded by accusing Ukraine's government of a "smear campaign against international figures who refuse to toe the line".<ref>{{cite news |title=Clare Daly added to list of alleged Russia propagandists by Ukraine's security service |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2022/07/26/clare-daly-added-to-list-of-alleged-russia-propagandists-by-ukraines-security-service/ |access-date=26 July 2022 |newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>

According to ''The Irish Times'', Daly's and Wallace's positions on Putin's Russia have caused tensions with other members of [[The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL|The Left in the European Parliament]]. Wallace and Daly tabled amendments on behalf of the Left, seeking to "water down" resolutions against Russia. They sought to remove a statement that a Dutch-led investigation found that Russia's military supplied the missile which downed [[Malaysia Airlines Flight 17]], killing 298 civilians.<ref name="Left tensions">{{cite news |last=O'Leary |first=Naomi |date=2 July 2021 |title=Tensions rise over Mick Wallace's and Clare Daly's views |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/tensions-rise-over-mick-wallace-s-and-clare-daly-s-views-1.4610010 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703030457/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/tensions-rise-over-mick-wallace-s-and-clare-daly-s-views-1.4610010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Daly said that the [[Russian occupation of Crimea]] since 2014 "has the clear support of the majority of the population".<ref name="IrishTimes Jan 2022"/> In January 2022, Daly described the [[Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian military buildup on Ukraine's border]] as being "clearly defensive" and said there is "no evidence that Russia has any desire to invade Ukraine, it would be of no benefit to them".<ref name="IrishTimes Jan 2022"/> Amid fears of an invasion, Daly was one of 52 MEPs who voted against providing €1.2 billion in loans to Ukraine, against 598 MEPs in favour.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jade |date=22 February 2022 |title=Abolish Nato, says Independent MEP Mick Wallace |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/abolish-nato-says-independent-mep-mick-wallace-1.4809378 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=24 February 2022 |archive-date=22 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222192713/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/abolish-nato-says-independent-mep-mick-wallace-1.4809378 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 2 March 2022, Daly was one of 13 MEPs who voted against a resolution condemning the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Loughlin |first=Elaine |date=1 March 2022 |title=Mick Wallace and Clare Daly reject EU resolution to condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40819440.html |work=Irish Examiner |location=Cork |access-date=21 September 2023}}</ref> She was criticised by constituents and others in Ireland.<ref name="Boland">{{cite news |last1=Boland |first1=Lauren |title='We're not playing to a gallery': Daly and Wallace defend decision on Russia vote after criticism |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/wallace-daly-eu-russia-vote-reaction-5705609-Mar2022/ |work=[[TheJournal.ie]] |date=9 March 2022}}</ref> Daly later said that she opposed Russia's invasion but had voted against the resolution because it also stated support for [[NATO]] and had called for weapons to be sent to Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/mick-wallace-clare-daly-5704575-Mar2022/ |title=EU Parliament Ukraine rapporteur says Mick Wallace and Clare Daly are 'politically irrelevant' and 'marginal' |date=8 March 2022 |first1=Rónán |last1=Duffy |first2=Lauren |last2=Boland |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=10 March 2022 |archive-date=10 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310150031/https://www.thejournal.ie/mick-wallace-clare-daly-5704575-Mar2022/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Daly said the "decision by Russia to abandon diplomacy and invade Ukraine is contrary to international law. The sole responsibility for this is borne by President Vladimir Putin". She also accused NATO of "destabilising the area for the past decade".<ref>{{cite web |title=Written explanations of vote |date=11 April 1968 |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197731/CLARE_DALY/other-activities/written-explanations |publisher=European Parliament}}</ref>

Daly has opposed [[International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine|sanctions against Russia]] for its invasion of Ukraine. She said that "the ordinary people of Europe" would pay for the sanctions and "not a single Ukrainian life will be saved". Daly added that the EU and military-industrial complex were "fanning the flames" of a "[[proxy war]]" with Russia.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Molony |first1=Senan |title='We cannot ignore the part played by the EU and the US in Ukraine war,' insists MEP Clare Daly |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/we-cannot-ignore-the-part-played-by-the-eu-and-the-us-in-ukraine-war-insists-mep-clare-daly-41622559.html |website=independent |access-date=7 May 2022 |language=en |date=6 May 2022|quote=adding that the Western narrative had now openly changed to this being 'a proxy war against Russia'. ... The solution 'is actually demilitarisation', she said. But of course this was 'heresy,' because 'the Military-Industrial Complex are the ones fanning the flames of war. This is the product of the response of the EU and corporate capture by the arms industry'.}}</ref> She later accused the West of arming Ukraine "to keep the war going".<ref>{{cite news |title=West arming Ukraine to ‘keep the war going’ - Clare Daly |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/west-arming-ukraine-to-keep-the-war-going-clare-daly-1481421 |work=[[Newstalk]] |date=27 June 2023}}</ref>

In January 2023, Daly voted against establishing a tribunal to investigate the Russian leadership for [[crimes of aggression]] against Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |title=MEPs Wallace and Daly vote against call for tribunal to prosecute Russia for invasion of Ukraine |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/01/19/meps-wallace-and-daly-vote-against-call-for-tribunal-to-prosecute-russia-for-invasion-of-ukraine/ |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=19 January 2023}}</ref> Daly also voted against a resolution to declare Russia a [[state sponsor of terrorism]]. She said "I condemn Russia's invasion and call for a withdrawal" and stated "even the [[War hawk|warhawks]] in the Biden administration have resisted pressure to designate Russia a 'state sponsor of terrorism,' because doing so would close off options for negotiating humanitarian and peace efforts".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Meskill |first=Tommy |date=23 November 2022 |title=EU Parliament's website targeted by cyber attack |work=[[RTÉ]] |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/1123/1337718-european-parliament-russia/ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Irish MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace oppose European Parliament resolution to declare Russia 'state sponsor of terrorism' |url=https://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/irish-meps-clare-daly-and-mick-wallace-oppose-european-parliament-resolution-to-declare-russia-state-sponsor-of-terrorism-42167127.html |access-date=25 November 2022 |website=independent |date=23 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Daly denounced [[Opposition to Vladimir Putin in Russia|Russian opposition]] leader [[Alexei Navalny]] as a "vicious anti-immigrant racist" and asked why MEPs were so outraged at his arrest by Russia's security forces.<ref name="Left tensions"/> In a 2024 interview, Daly described the war in Ukraine as "incredibly dangerous for the world" and [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]]'s calls for weapons and money as "increasingly unhinged".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clare Daly: ‘We need an activist left that has anti-imperialism at its heart’ |url=https://www.counterfire.org/article/clare-daly-we-need-an-activist-left-that-has-anti-imperialism-at-its-heart/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Counterfire |language=en}}</ref>

====Support for convicted and alleged Russian spies====
In November 2021, Daly and Wallace travelled to [[Lithuania]] to support [[Algirdas Paleckis]], a politician found guilty of spying for Russia's [[Federal Security Service]] in return for money.<ref name="O'Leary"/> Daly said the conviction was not based on evidence, and attended court when Paleckis' appeal was being heard. In May 2022, Paleckis's conviction for spying was upheld.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paleckis dėl šnipinėjimo Rusijai lieka nuteistas šešerius metus kalėti |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/1688998/paleckis-del-snipinejimo-rusijai-lieka-nuteistas-seserius-metus-kaleti |date=6 May 2022 |website=[[Lithuanian National Radio and Television|LRT]] |access-date=6 May 2022 |language=lt}}</ref>

While in Lithuania, Daly and Wallace protested together with [[Latvia]]n MEP [[Tatjana Ždanoka]].<ref name="O'Leary"/> Eight days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the three MEPs again protested together in the European Parliament wearing shirts bearing the Russian slogan "Stop killing Donbass children".<ref name="O'Leary"/> In January 2024, Ždanoka was also accused of spying for Russian intelligence agencies in a joint investigation by Russian, Latvian, Estonian and Swedish media outlets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2024/01/29/new-investigation-alleges-latvian-member-of-european-parliament-has-secretly-worked-for-russian-fsb-for-20-years |title=New investigation alleges Latvian member of European Parliament has secretly worked for Russian FSB for 20 years |work=[[Meduza]] |date=29 January 2024}}</ref> Daly responded that journalists should "cover the work that we actually do instead of occupying your time with these constant attempts to construct elaborate [[guilt-by-association]] [[conspiracy theories]]".<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Leary |first=Naomi |date=29 January 2024 |title=Latvian MEP linked to Wallace and Daly accused of working with Russian intelligence |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/01/29/latvian-mep-linked-to-wallace-and-daly-accused-of-working-with-russian-intelligence/ |newspaper=The Irish Times |location= |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref>

===Israeli–Palestinian conflict===
Daly condemned [[War crimes in the Gaza war#By Israel|Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip]] during the [[Gaza war]] and accused Israel of committing [[Allegations of genocide in the 2023 Israeli attack on Gaza|genocide against the Palestinians]] in Gaza. On 10 November 2023, she criticised European Commission President [[Ursula von der Leyen]] for not [[Calls for a ceasefire during the Gaza war|calling for a ceasefire]], saying that "Israel has spent a month pounding Gaza into rubble and [[Effect of the Gaza war on children in the Gaza Strip|filling the streets with children's blood]]. With European and American weapons, and European and American support. Still [Von der Leyen] cannot even say the word: 'ceasefire.{{'"}}<ref>{{cite news |title='This isn't just Israel's genocide. It's Europe's too': Irish MEP |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/this-isnt-just-israels-genocide-its-europes-too-irish-mep/3050248 |publisher=[[Anadolu Agency]] |date=10 November 2023}}</ref> {{anchor|fraugenocide}}In December 2023, a speech by Daly at the European Parliament [[went viral]]. Daly referred to von der Leyen as "[[Frau]] Genocide" and accused her of "overriding the foreign policies of elected governments all to cheerlead a brutal [[Israel and apartheid|apartheid regime]] that she calls a 'vibrant democracy' as [it] pulverizes a city of children".<ref>{{cite web |title=Verbatim report of proceedings - Defence of democracy package (debate) |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-9-2023-12-12-INT-2-256-0000_EN.html |website=European Parliament |access-date=1 February 2024 |date=12 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=MEP Clare Daly brands EU Commission Head Ursula a 'Frau Genocide' |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231225-irish-member-of-european-parliament-calls-von-der-leyen-frau-genocide-over-gaza/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |work=Middle East Monitor |date=26 December 2023}}</ref>

===Syrian chemical attack===
At a European Parliament committee in April 2021, Daly and Wallace challenged the findings of a report by the [[Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons]] (OPCW) into the 2018 [[Douma chemical attack]] in Syria. They accused the OPCW of wrongly blaming the [[Bashar al-Assad|Assad regime]].<ref name="it060721">{{cite news |last=O'Leary |first=Naomi |date=6 July 2021 |title=Fianna Fáil MEP claims Daly and Wallace had spread 'conspiracy theory' on Syria |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fianna-f%C3%A1il-mep-claims-daly-and-wallace-had-spread-conspiracy-theory-on-syria-1.4613457 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=13 July 2013 |archive-date=6 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210706193215/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fianna-f%C3%A1il-mep-claims-daly-and-wallace-had-spread-conspiracy-theory-on-syria-1.4613457 |url-status=live}}</ref> Daly said that "an independent OCPW is absolutely necessary".<ref name="ie260421">{{cite news |last=Hosford |first=Paul |date=26 April 2021 |title=MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly reject claims they spread 'fake news' about Syria attack |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40274969.html |newspaper=Irish Examiner |location=Cork |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713061532/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40274969.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Fellow Irish MEP [[Barry Andrews (politician)|Barry Andrews]] (of [[Fianna Fáil]]) accused Daly and Wallace of spreading a conspiracy theory that the attack was [[False flag|staged]] by the [[White Helmets (Syrian civil war)|White Helmets]].<ref name="it060721"/> He expressed "revulsion at the likes of this disinformation".<ref name="it060721"/> The White Helmets, a Syrian [[civil protection]] group that gathered evidence of [[War crimes in the Syrian civil war|war crimes]], "have been subject of smear campaigns backed by the regime of Bashar al-Assad and ally Russia".<ref name="it060721"/>

[[File:EP-094364A Photo Hemicycle STB Plenary 6 (49059037542).jpg|thumb|Daly on 22 October 2019]]

===Venezuelan and Ecuadorian election monitoring===
In June 2021, Daly and Wallace were among the MEPs censured by the European Parliament's Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group for acting as unofficial election monitors in the December [[2020 Venezuelan parliamentary election]] and April [[2021 Ecuadorian general election]] without a mandate or permission from the EU. Official European overseas trips had been suspended during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="IT20210628">{{cite news |last=O'Leary |first=Naomi |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/meps-clare-daly-and-mick-wallace-punished-for-fake-election-observation-1.4606206 |title=MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace punished for 'fake election observation' |date=28 June 2021 |newspaper=The Irish Times |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-IE |access-date=20 December 2021 |quote=Daly and Wallace were among 12 MEPs disciplined. Others included far-right politicians who attended votes in Kazakhstan and in the Russian-annexed territory of Crimea. |archive-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714082352/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/meps-clare-daly-and-mick-wallace-punished-for-fake-election-observation-1.4606206 |url-status=live}}</ref> Daly and Wallace were barred until the end of 2021 from making any election missions. They were warned that any further such action may result in their ejection from the European Parliament until the end of their terms in 2024. While MEPs can make personal trips overseas, according to ''[[The Irish Times]]'', Daly and Wallace made no mention in their tweets that they were acting in an unofficial capacity.<ref name="IT20210628" />

Daly and Wallace issued a joint statement in response that read: "This is a political stunt by the centre right parties in the European Parliament, and we will be challenging it. These were not 'fake' election-observation trips. We made abundantly clear by public announcement at the time that we were not visiting Ecuador or Venezuela with an official election observation mandate." They continued: "Although we regret that the Ecuadorian people did not choose [[Andrés Arauz]] as their president, we found the elections to be conducted fairly and impartially, and their results are beyond question."<ref name="IT20210628" /> Ecuadorian election officials said that Daly could not be an objective election observer while openly supporting one side, such as Andrés Arauz, over the other.<ref name="In the News Podcast">{{cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ebSCIN8kD0cXmC3dG4V7I?si=f1ootMv1QvCjQ8x1cCWThQ&dl_branch=1 |title=Why are MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly in trouble at the European Parliament? |work=In the News podcast |date=July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713061529/https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ebSCIN8kD0cXmC3dG4V7I?si=f1ootMv1QvCjQ8x1cCWThQ&dl_branch=1 |archive-date=13 July 2021}}</ref>

[[File:F70A7913 (48758438968).jpg|thumb|Daly at the 6th anniversary of the murder of [[Pavlos Fyssas]] by a member of the [[neo-fascist]] group [[Golden Dawn (Greece)|Golden Dawn]]]]

Both Daly and Wallace refused to present vaccination certificates upon entering the European Parliament, resulting in them being reprimanded by the European Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mahon |first=Brian |title=Irish MEPs reprimanded for failing to show Covid passes in parliament |date=24 January 2022 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/irish-meps-reprimanded-for-failing-to-show-covid-passes-in-parliament-38jgfcg6b |access-date=16 March 2022 |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125031837/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/irish-meps-reprimanded-for-failing-to-show-covid-passes-in-parliament-38jgfcg6b |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Nicaragua===
On 15 September 2022, she was one of 19 MEPs who voted against condemning [[Nicaragua]] for the arrest of [[Rolando José Álvarez Lagos|Rolando Álvarez]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nicaragua, en particulier l’arrestation de l’évêque Rolando Álvarez|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PV-9-2022-09-15-RCV_FR.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Breda O’Brien: Daly and Wallace equivocate over Nicaraguan regime |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2022/09/24/breda-obrien-daly-and-wallaces-shameful-defence-of-ortegas-brutal-regime/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>

===RTÉ lawsuit===
In April 2022, Daly and Wallace sued for [[defamation]] against Ireland's national broadcasting service [[RTÉ]], for undisclosed reasons.{{update inline|date=June 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=MEPs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly sue RTÉ |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/meps-mick-wallace-and-clare-daly-sue-rte-41545192.html |access-date=18 May 2022 |website=Irish Independent |date=12 April 2022}}</ref> Their lawsuit was flagged as a potential threat to [[press freedom]] by the [[Index on Censorship]] and [[International Press Institute]]. The organizations alerted the [[Council of Europe]], filing it under "harassment and intimidation of journalists". A statement from the Index on Censorship said "we believe that they are characteristic of [[strategic lawsuits against public participation]] – also known as SLAPPs".<ref>{{cite news |title=Daly and Wallace lawsuit flagged for press freedom concerns |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/daly-and-wallace-lawsuit-flagged-for-press-freedom-concerns-1.4875977 |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=11 May 2022}}</ref>

==Later career==
After losing her European Parliament seat in 2024, Daly announced that she would run in the [[Dublin Central (Dáil constituency)|Dublin Central]] constituency in the [[2024 Irish general election|2024 general election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGee |first=Harry |title=Clare Daly to switch constituency and run as Dublin Central candidate |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/10/24/clare-daly-to-switch-constituency-and-run-as-dublin-central-candidate/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> She placed tenth with 1,317 first preference votes, 20% of the quota, and was eliminated in the 4th round of counting.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-30 |title=Dublin Central General Election 2024 updates: Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald elected, Clare Daly eliminated with ‘The Monk’ still in contention |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/dublin-central-general-election-2024-updates-sinn-feins-mary-lou-mcdonald-elected-clare-daly-eliminated-with-the-monk-still-in-contention/a670978350.html |access-date=2024-12-01 |newspaper=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Daly married political activist Michael Murphy in 1999,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hand |first=Lise |date=2012-09-09 |title=Mick 'n' Clare Showtime! |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/mick-n-clare-showtime/26896112.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref> with whom she had one daughter.<ref name=":0" /> The couple have since separated.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Coyle |first=Colin |date=2024-05-31 |title=Clare Daly hires ex-husband Michael Murphy as European parliament aide |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/clare-daly-hires-ex-husband-michael-murphy-as-european-parliament-aide-mvl8qx5dv |access-date=2024-05-31 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{wikiquote-inline}}
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Official website|claredaly.ie}}
*{{MEP|197731|Clare Daly}}

{{Members of the European Parliament for Ireland (2019–2024)}}
{{Dublin North (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{Dublin Fingal (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{EP Political Group GUE-NGL}}
{{Authority control}}

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