John Kelly: Younger party members should take over.

The Labour senator calling for Eamon Gilmore to be replaced as party leader has said any move to oust the Tánaiste should take place if there is a further drop in support for the party.

Rebel party senator John Kelly also said that ordinary members were openly comparing the fate of Labour to that of the Green Party, whose electoral support collapsed after the last coalition government.

Mr Kelly’s comments came as ministers refused to speculate on doubts about Mr Gilmore’s leadership and the party’s direction.

The Roscommon senator told his local newspaper earlier this week that Labour should replace Mr Gilmore and let younger members “take over” the party.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, he said: “It’s not fair that we’re so low in the polls. We’re continuously taking the hit, not Fine Gael. The blame on Gilmore is unfair, consistent, and hasn’t stopped.”

He compared the scenario to when the Greens pulled out of the last government and the party went on to lose all their Dáil seats.

“It’s like the Greens,” he said. “Everyone is saying the same word about the party, that we will be destroyed at the next general election.

“For some reason, it’s Eamon that is the problem. Maybe it’s because he is too much out of the country [as foreign affairs minister] or there’s a shake-up of ministers needed.

“If we start plummeting any more in the polls, the debate will have to take place. I’ve stuck my neck on the block on this one. It’s up to bigger players than me to say if I’m right.”

Mr Kelly’s remarks come at a sensitive time for Labour, with the party trying to play down reports of tensions between Mr Gilmore and his deputy leader, Joan Burton.

However, party TD distanced themselves from Mr Kelly’s comments yesterday. One TD said: “There’s no suggestion there should be any change at the moment. Labour don’t do leadership heaves. It’s not how we operate.”

The unnamed Labour TD pointed out that party support had remained the same at 10% at three elections in 1997, 2002, and 2007 but under different leaders.

Ms Burton said she thought Mr Gilmore would lead Labour into next year’s local and European elections, as he had suggested himself.

Asked if she thought he should be leader, Ms Burton said: “He said the other day that he will. Eamon is tremendously popular among Labour party members and the parliamentary party. He’s committed himself to doing that and absolutely, that’s what I expect him to do.”

Junior transport minister Alan Kelly told RTÉ that Labour was working hard.