FIANNA FÁIL “could be obliterated” in the general election and senior TDs should not retire but contest “to keep the party intact”, according to Minister of State Conor Lenihan.

He appealed specifically to Cabinet members and former ministers, when asked in an interview if serving Ministers should stay on and fight, although he made exceptions for the personal circumstances of individuals.

“I’d like to think that people who’ve had a good career would still put themselves forward even if they know that they won’t be in ministerial office after the election. We do need as many of those who currently serve in Government or have served in senior positions in the party to put their name forward to keep the party intact,” he said.

Mr Lenihan said many party activists were “absolutely furious” at the departure of senior personnel. “A lot of my [Dublin South-West] constituents and indeed party activists in the area are hugely annoyed that some people, as they feel it, are in a sense walking away from the party having had a strong career both as ministers and serving the party at a senior level.”

Mr Lenihan said he understood people had good reasons for choosing to retire, and he tried to impart this message to party workers. But he also appreciated how annoyed Fianna Fáil’s activist base was “that a perception is being created that people are retiring with very large pension and lump-sum payments”. He said this sent “a kind of a message about the political system and particularly about Fianna Fáil which is not helpful at all”.

Among those who have announced their retirement are former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, Minister of State Michael Finneran, and former ministers of state Tom Kitt and Dr James McDaid, who resigned last November.

Mr Lenihan said Fianna Fáil should not be “condemned to opposition” for many years because it lacked people with experience of political office. However, he reiterated his belief that the party should opt for a younger leader to succeed Taoiseach Brian Cowen after the election.

Asked who he would recommend as the next Fianna Fáil leader, Mr Lenihan said: “No particular recommendation. I just think it’s time for a fresh start in the party.”

The leadership of Fianna Fáil must pass, in a post-election scenario, “to people who have not been part, in a cabinet sense, of the situation that developed over the last 10 years”, he said.

He ruled out Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin and his brother and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan. “Nothing personal, they’re all great people.”

Mr Lenihan said the Opposition was to blame for many of the problems facing the State because it failed to prevent the Government’s mistakes.

“We put our hands in the air and say we were responsible – but in fact one of the main reasons that . . . we were able to make those mistakes is we were not checked by a strong Opposition.”

He praised Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, “despite his failings”, for promoting young, talented people as part of his efforts to rebuild the party in the aftermath of the 2007 election.