No election called but Minister joins Laois Fine Gael 'campaign trail' in Portlaoise

Fine Gael TD and Government Chief Whip was coy about the timing of the General Election when she joined the party's Laois candidate in the streets of Portlaoise this week.

Hildegarde Naughton, who is also a Minister of State, is one of the key link between Ministers and Government TDs in her position as Minister of State.

She joined Cllr Willie Aird in his search for votes in the heart of the new Laois constituency as both waited for the Taoiseach Simon Harris to name a date for the General Election. While her job as Chief Whip makes her a key ally of Simon Harris, Minister Naughton wasn't giving much away.

"We are going to have an election sometime before March of next year so I don't want to mislead anybody," she told the Leinster Express / Laois Live on Lyster Square.

The Galway TD confirmed however that she was in town to support first-time Fine Gael candidate Aird in the new three-seat constituency. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Willie Aird on his election to Laois County Council in 2024. Pic: Alf Harvey

"I am on the campaign trail with Willie Aird. He has done huge work here in this area and I would love to see him elected to Dáil Éireann. He will be a really strong voice for Laois. You can see the reaction around the town. He's recognisable and people who are telling him about the work that he has done around and I can tell you that someone who has been all around the country and is in politics that there is no better endorsement when your constituents are come up to you," she said.

She was also asked if Cllr Aird could be joined by a second Fine Gael candidate in Laois given the problems faced by former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley.

"That would be a matter for the executive council of Fine Gael," she said.

While no election has been called the Chief Whip accepted that the next few weeks would be busy.

"Yes it is going to busy and we need to ensure we are going to support candidates like Willie. We need a voice like Willie in Dáil Éireann we really do and I hope the people of Laois come out and support him," she said.

Cllr Aird, a Portlaoise area representative on Laois County Council, said he was getting a 'great reaction' from the people in his campaign the retain the Laois Fine Gael seat that is being vacated by the retiring former government minister Charlie Flanagan.

He said housing is the big issue but it depends on the area he is canvassing in. He added that he would be carrying on working on the projects he has deliver on in Laois and Portlaoise one of which was the Moore Way green way. 

Cllr Aird, a farmer, was elected as a councillor in 1979. His grandfather was a TD from 1927 to 1931.