Do all young TDs hold ageist views?

I WRITE in horror at Damien English’s recent thoughtless ageist comments. This is an important issue for people who are near Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny’s grand old age of 55.

On Morning Ireland, where there is no danger of being quoted out of context in a live interview, Mr English said if there was an election for Fine Gael leader, there should be “a generation skip”. He said he would vote for a younger man “naturally enough” because he himself is a member of the younger TDs group.

As Mr English will only vote for his own “group”, does he also exclude women, black and disabled people and those who are not from Meath?

With extremist views like his, Mr English does a disservice to younger people entering politics as it leads sceptics like me to wonder whether they will also be ageist in their views.

I sadden to think that when the country was nearly bust in 1983 I was paying heavy taxes so five-year-old Mr English could have a free education. This appears to have been a bad investment on my part.

Mr English is living proof that sometimes youth is wasted on the young. I have a great fear of getting old and being forgotten and with a TD like him to represent me, I am even more fearful.

Paul Egan

Whitethorn

Tullaghanogue

Trim

Co Meath