Age of cabinet almost twice national average

The Minister for Education Ruiarí Quinn has been reported as saying that a second consecutive term in office for the coalition might be achievable on the grounds that Fianna Fáil ‘are so weakened and so low in numbers’.

The average age of the Cabinet will be 61.2 years and the average age of the current members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party will be 52½ years of age in February 2016, the latest possible time for 31st Dáil to be dissolved.

The average age of the Ahern governments, on assuming office in 2002 and 2007, was 49½ and 50 years of age respectively.