Mayo's new TDs are ready to make a mark

Mayo’s two newest TDs have made their Dáil bow and are eager to make their mark.

Fine Gael’s Keira Keogh and Aontú’s Paul Lawless entered the chamber for the first time as TDs on Wednesday, December 18.

The pair were the dark horses in this year’s general election in Mayo, taking the fourth and fifth seats alongside Sinn Féin’s Rose Conway-Walsh, Fine Gael’s Alan Dillion and Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary.

Unlike her predecessor, Michael Ring, Deputy Keogh was unable to bring half of Westport with her for her maiden trip as a TD.

“It’s a lot more restricted now. It was a bit like All-Ireland time with tickets like gold dust,” she joked.

She was joined by a family member, a friend, and three from her campaign. 

“It was great," she said.

The Westport TD was thrilled with her election performance.

“I definitely think I was a dark horse. I don’t think anybody expected me to get the seat especially not the fourth seat. We were incredibly proud and it was a huge team effort that seemed to get momentum as the weeks went by,” said Deputy Keogh.

She believes in the absence of Michael Ring his loyalists were determined not to lose political representation.

“That message was very clear in Westport, and surrounding areas, and it was also hugely felt in Erris. When I was canvassing back in Blacksod or Carrowteige, everywhere you went Michael would have somebody.” 

The Westport woman is keen to get started and learn quickly.

“When I’m up here in Leinster House the last thing I have to do is have an ego. If I have a question I will ask it because there are so many people depending on me to get the right answers and do a good job. I’m just focusing on what I have to do.” 

Mayo’s youngest TD, Aontú’s Paul Lawless made the journey to Leinster House solo.

“I just brought myself. I just wanted to get to work really and there will be plenty of time to bring the family up again,” he told the Western People.

The Knock native is keen to hit the ground running.

“I was elected nearly a month ago and I found it a bit frustrating that I wasn’t able to exercise that mandate before now.” 

When he took his Dáil seat for the first time he got a sense of what he had achieved.

“It’s an incredible place and it’s a real privilege, and you get a sense of that when you arrive. It’s only really when I took the seat in the Dáil that it really started to sink home,” said Deputy Lawless, adding that he is proud of effectively “building the party from the ground up” in his home county.

Although still early days, Lawless was disappointed with the progress and pace of some political proceedings. 

"Since getting elected to the Dáil three weeks ago, my eyes have been opened to the political messing that goes on behind the scenes. TDs only sat in the Dáil for the first time three weeks on from the election. Then it was decided that the Dáil would be suspended until January 22. This is utterly disgraceful. Government formation is moving at a very slow pace - it took Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil more than a week before they even sat down together."