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Pat Rabbitte and Ruairí Quinn are two ministers singled out for replacement, but is it because of their age? Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Poll: Does a politician's age matter?

Is a call for fresh blood ageism? Or just a desire to see change?

WITH A CABINET reshuffle seemingly imminent, calls are being made to remove some of the older members of cabinet.

Speaking today on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte said that calls for the likes of himself and Education Minister Ruairí Quinn to step aside was “ageism”.

But, does it matter? In sport, they say “if you good enough you’re old enough”. Is the reverse true in politics, that if you’re good enough, you’re young enough?

Or is a call for fresh blood just a desire to see new faces?

We’re asking: Does a politician’s age matter?


Poll Results:

No, only performance matters (1918)
Yes (1057)
No, but time in power does (700)
I don't know (46)

Read: Alan Kelly expects to be promoted if he becomes Labour’s deputy leader next week

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