Labour tensions over party age profile

Tensions have emerged in Labour between those who want generational change at the top of the party and those who favour experienced people in senior positions.

The age profile of the party’s Cabinet members, all in their 50s or 60s, has been widely commented on since the formation of Government.

Clare TD Michael McNamara (40), one of the signatories of the motion of no confidence in former leader Eamon Gilmore (59), yesterday said the party needed to move quickly to put younger people in senior positions.

“There has to be a change – not just rearranging the deck chairs – a fundamental change in generation of the leadership of the Labour Party and also its focus and direction,” said Mr McNamara.

Life experience Carlow-Kilkenny Labour TD Ann Phelan (52), who would like to see Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton (65) as leader, stressed the value of "life experience" in politics.

“Being young is not a qualification. I don’t know what’s wrong with our party that everything has to be about young people. I’m a middle-aged woman – what’s wrong with that?” Ms Phelan said.

Arthur Spring (37), TD for Kerry North-Limerick West, said the parliamentary party’s age profile might prove problematic in future but that people of all ages were welcome in the party.

“We need to get TDs elected at the next General Election, and if it’s going to be those currently in their 60s that doesn’t bode well for the party,” Mr Spring said. “We need a mix of demographics, a blend of experience, youth and energy.”

He complimented the current Labour Cabinet members on their “Trojan” efforts over the past three years.

Ageism Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte (65), complained about an "obsession with ageism" when he appeared on RTÉ's Six One News on Monday night. "If it was any other 'politically correct-ism' RTÉ would be denouncing it," he said. Anyone with the intellectual ability, stamina and "stomach for the job" should be free to contest the leadership, he said.

Merits Chairman of Labour Youth and member of the party's executive board Ciarán Garrett said: "Look at someone like Michael D Higgins: he's about 70 but he's got fantastic values and views about how society should function. We shouldn't be ageist about this. We should look at candidates based on their own merits."

Mr Garrett said he would not recommend that Labour Youth get involved in a “personality contest” but that it do its best to keep the focus on policy.