Liam Aylward
Encyclopedia
Liam Aylward is an Irish Fianna Fáil
politician and a Member of the European Parliament
(MEP) for the East constituency. He was a Teachta Dála
(TD) for Carlow–Kilkenny
from 1977–2007.
Liam Aylward was born in Mullinavat
, County Kilkenny
in 1952. He was educated at St Kierans College, Kilkenny. He worked as a laboratory technician before getting involved in politics. He was elected to Kilkenny County Council
in 1974, serving on that authority until 1992.
Aylward was first elected to Dáil Éireann
at the 1977 general election
for Carlow–Kilkenny
in what proved to be a landslide for Fianna Fáil. Since then he has served as Minister of State
at the Department of Energy (1988–1989), at the Department of Education (1992–1994) and at the Department of Agriculture & Food (2002–2004). In 2004 he was elected to the European Parliament
for Fianna Fáil
, which was then part of the Union for a Europe of Nations.
Since the 2009 European Parliament elections
, Fianna Fáil is now affiliated with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
(ALDE). Aylward is a member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
, the delegation for relations with Mercosur and the delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly. Aylward is also a substitute member of the Committee on Culture and Education
and the delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
.
Because dual mandate
legislation forbids Members of the European Parliament from seeking re-election as members of their national legislatures, Liam Aylward retired at the 2007 general election. He was succeeded as a Fianna Fáil TD by his brother, Bobby Aylward
. He is the son of the Bob Aylward
who served as a Fianna Fáil senator.
Aylward has opted not to receive a ministerial pension but still receives annual pension payments of around €50,000 from his time as a TD.
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician and a Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
(MEP) for the East constituency. He was a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for Carlow–Kilkenny
Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
from 1977–2007.
Liam Aylward was born in Mullinavat
Mullinavat
Mullinavat is a town in south County Kilkenny, Ireland. Its main industries are tourism and agriculture. It has a renowned sporting history, particularly in hurling.-Location and access:...
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
in 1952. He was educated at St Kierans College, Kilkenny. He worked as a laboratory technician before getting involved in politics. He was elected to Kilkenny County Council
Kilkenny County Council
Kilkenny County council is the local authority for County Kilkenny in Ireland. The council is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The county council has 26 elected members...
in 1974, serving on that authority until 1992.
Aylward was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
at the 1977 general election
Irish general election, 1977
The Irish general election of 1977 was held on 16 June 1977 and is regarded as a pivotal point in twentieth century Irish politics. The general election took place in 42 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 148 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. The number of...
for Carlow–Kilkenny
Carlow–Kilkenny (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Carlow–Kilkenny is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
in what proved to be a landslide for Fianna Fáil. Since then he has served as Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
at the Department of Energy (1988–1989), at the Department of Education (1992–1994) and at the Department of Agriculture & Food (2002–2004). In 2004 he was elected to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
for Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
, which was then part of the Union for a Europe of Nations.
Since the 2009 European Parliament elections
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
, Fianna Fáil is now affiliated with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is a transnational alliance between two European political parties: the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the European Democratic Party. It has political groups in the European Parliament, the EU Committee of the Regions, the...
(ALDE). Aylward is a member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development is a committee of the European Parliament.-Responsibilities of the Committee:AGRI is the European Parliament committee responsible for:...
, the delegation for relations with Mercosur and the delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly. Aylward is also a substitute member of the Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Culture and Education
The Committee on Culture and Education is a committee of the European Parliament.- Responsibilities of the Committee :This committee has focused on the well-being of all members of the human race and the increased opportunities for education in all countries of the European Union...
and the delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
The ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly was created to bring together the elected representatives of the European Union and the elected representatives of the African, Caribbean and Pacific states that have signed the Cotonou Agreement.Since the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union...
.
Because dual mandate
Dual mandate
A dual mandate is the practice in which elected officials served in more than one elected or other public position simultaneously. This practice is known as double jobbing in Britain and distinguished from double dipping in the United States For example, suppose a...
legislation forbids Members of the European Parliament from seeking re-election as members of their national legislatures, Liam Aylward retired at the 2007 general election. He was succeeded as a Fianna Fáil TD by his brother, Bobby Aylward
Bobby Aylward
Bobby Aylward is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician and was a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency from 2007 to 2011. He also works as a farmer....
. He is the son of the Bob Aylward
Bob Aylward
Bob Aylward was a Fianna Fáil politician from County Kilkenny in Ireland. He was a senator from 1973 until his death in 1974....
who served as a Fianna Fáil senator.
Aylward has opted not to receive a ministerial pension but still receives annual pension payments of around €50,000 from his time as a TD.