Minister of State for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary has joined other junior ministers in calling for the leadership of Fianna Fáil to pass to a new generation when a vacancy arises.
Minister of State for Children Barry Andrews and Minister of State for Science Conor Lenihan have already suggested the party could look beyond serving Cabinet Ministers when considering a successor to Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
Mr Calleary (37), who represents Mayo, said the leadership should pass to what he called the "Ógra generation", which had emerged from Fianna Fáil's youth wing, in a post-general election scenario.
"There's a group of people in their thirties and very early forties that got elected for the first time in 2007 that have a hell of a lot to offer in terms of rebuilding the party," Mr Calleary said in an interview with The Irish Times.
"One of the generations most alienated from politics at the moment is that particular generation. As a group we are in a position to articulate their concerns. There's a responsibility on all of us to lead the regeneration."
Mr Calleary stressed Mr Cowen had his full support and the discussion about a successor would take place after the upcoming election.
Friday, March 25th is now considered a likely poll date, following comments yesterday by Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley and Minister for Enterprise Batt O'Keeffe.
Among Fianna Fáil TDs elected for the first time in 2007 were Mr Calleary, Meath East TD Thomas Byrne (33), Cork South-Central's Michael McGrath (34), Limerick West TD Niall Collins (37) and Dublin North's Darragh O'Brien (36).
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin (50) and Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin (51), along with Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan (51), have been routinely mentioned as potential future leaders. Minister for Social Protection Éamon Ó Cuív (60), whose grandfather Éamon de Valera founded the party, has also hinted he may contest.
Ms Hanafin said in an interview with The Irish Times she believed the next leader would come from the current Cabinet ranks and said she intended to put her name forward when the time came, but warned that Ministers hoping to succeed Mr Cowen could lose their seats.
"You could have people with leadership ambitions who could be outside the Dáil. I don't know what's going to happen in Dún Laoghaire so you can't presume. We'll have to really wait and see when it comes up what the shape of the Dáil is, what the geographical basis of it is. People who are there now who might be declaring allegiance to one person or another might not even be there next time," Ms Hanafin said.
She said the lack of a contest when Mr Cowen succeeded Bertie Ahern had created "a bit of resentment for some people". She also said Fianna Fáil was lucky to have many "good, new young people" first elected in 2007 who were "going to be looking at a long-term future" if, as she hoped, they were re-elected. She praised Mr Byrne, Mr McGrath, Minister of State for Fisheries Seán Connick (47) and Cavan-Monaghan TD Margaret Conlon (43).
When Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, who represents Meath West, announced last month he would not contest the next election, Mr Byrne released a statement that said: "The torch is passing to a new young generation in Fianna Fáil, nationally and in Meath. It is a challenging time for the party, but I am willing to lead that change."
Mr Andrews (43) recently said "a lot of really young guys" were "as entitled to consider themselves as possible future leadership candidates as the ones who are mentioned all the time". He named Mr McGrath; chief whip John Curran (50) and Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power (44).
Before Christmas, Conor Lenihan (47) said Fianna Fáil would overlook senior Ministers such as his brother Brian, Mr Martin and Ms Hanafin.
