Martin faces ageism charge as Senators dig their heels in

SEANAD ELECTIONS:FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin is continuing to face opposition from sitting party Senators unwilling to stand aside to allow younger people to contest the upcoming Seanad election.

Roscommon-based Senator Terry Leyden said he would meet party colleagues from the Upper House this afternoon to discuss Mr Martin’s stated intention that future Fianna Fáil Seanad candidates should be “young women” and those with the potential to become Dáil deputies.

“I’m a loyal party member,” he said. “I’ve never voted against the party. I’ve followed the whip in difficult times and on that basis I’m seeking re-election to the Seanad. Loyalty deserves loyalty.”

Mr Leyden said the Seanad needed a mixture of men and women, youth and experience. “All the people of Ireland are not under 40,” he added. Mr Leyden also pointed out that he was based in an area now without a Fianna Fáil TD.

Senator Mary White claimed Mr Martin’s aim was “undemocratic”, arguing that the make-up of the Seanad needed to be diverse. “Ageism is bigotry. I think the whole thing is totally ageist, I’ve absolutely no doubt about it. It’s ignorance.”

Ms White cited the examples of US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, former US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi and former US president Ronald Reagan as people who were “only getting into their prime” in their later years.

Senator Camillus Glynn confirmed he had informed Mr Martin at the weekend that he would not contest the election. Mr Glynn said he made the decision a number of months ago and insisted he had not been put under any pressure.

Senator Francis O’Brien said the matter of whether to stand again was “under consideration”.

Most senators are elected by members of the incoming Dáil, members of the outgoing Seanad and members of county councils and city councils, groups know as “vocational panels”.

Mr Martin convened an hour-long meeting of Dublin-based Fianna Fáil councillors in Leinster House yesterday to discuss the issue, having met Fianna Fáil representatives on Cork City Council and Cork County Council on Monday.

Dublin City councillor Deirdre Heney said the six Fianna Fáil representatives on the council were agreed that candidates contesting the Seanad election on behalf of the party would need to be able to run in the next general election.

Asked if Mr Martin had indicated whom he would like to see elected to the Seanad, Ms Heney said: “He hasn’t given any commitments to anybody that I’m aware of.”

The Seanad is made up of 60 members, 43 of whom elected by vocational panels. For the election of these members, ballot papers will be issued to the electorate on April 7th and the poll will close at 11am on April 26th.

Six members are elected by the graduates of the National University of Ireland and the University of Dublin. Ballot papers will be issued to the electorate on March 21st and the poll will close at 11am on April 27th. The remaining 11 members are nominated by the taoiseach of the day.