After 45 years as a local councillor, it’s understandable that there would be a bit of getting used to life as a TD.
But Willie Aird says he’s loving his new role, representing the people of Laois in Dáil Éireann.
Speaking on this week’s episode of the LoveLaois Podcast, which will be available to download on Friday, Aird says there was a period of adjustment, which included hiring a manager to oversee his dairy farm in the heart of Portlaoise.
“I’m really enjoying it,” he says. “There’s huge procedure and huge security.
“It took a while to get used to it but once I got my feet on the ground it was great.
“You have to queue up for speaking time. I was asking questions in the council to be sent on to ministers, to be sent on to the Taoiseach.
“Now I’m asking those questions directly in front of them and I’m getting answers.
“The only thing is you don’t get to have to and fro .. . you’re cut out of order if you try and go back. You’re pushed into accepting an answer.”
For someone known for his impassioned addresses in the council and at public meetings over the years, that type of procedure in the Dáil surely can’t be easy.
“Not easy,” he laughs. “I think I’m on my last warning from the Ceann Comhairle.”
As an active dairy farmer all his life, Aird regularly went straight from the milking parlour to the council chamber.
But his new role has meant he’s had to take a considerable step back from the farm.
“I got a very good person called James Bergin. Only for James .. I joke with him, ‘James if you ever leave me there will be a by-election.’ He’s a really, really good chap.”
He says it’s “very seldom” now that he will milk himself. “Maybe on a Sunday,” he adds. “It’s a huge change.
“When I get the late train (home from Dublin), I step off the train at 20 to 12 but I’ll certainly never go to bed without going out to the yard.
“I’m not as hands on (but) I’m not gone away from it.”
Among a range of other topics discussed on the podcast, he also chats about his new found fame as a TikTok star where some of his contributions in the Dáil or at Oireachtas committee meetings have really captured the imagination on social media.
“They’re saying it to me everywhere,” he says of his TikTok videos which have been among some of the work overseen by Mark Dunphy, a communications specialist who was also to the fore in Francie Gorman’s election as IFA president.
“Every contribution I make in the Dáil is on behalf of people … groups, committees that have come to me.
“I’m meeting some very difficult cases out there … and I’m bringing them with passion.”
“What I said was I have to compete,” he says of his social media approach.
“I have two other TDs in the county. I’m competing with them the same as they’re competing with me.
“I have ramped it up a bit.”
As for the next General Election, likely to be in 2029, at which stage he’ll be nearly 70, will he be running again.
“Oh absolutely,” he responds immediately. “I can’t wait for it but it all depends on the man above.”
The full Willie Aird interview on the LaoisToday LoveLaois Podcast will be available on Friday.
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