Elaine Loughlin: Is Fine Gael facing an exodus of senior TDs?

As well as expected retirements, party sources speculate that the likes of Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney and Paschal Donohoe could follow Eoghan Murphy in leaving politics

Elaine Loughlin: 'Many in the party feel they are now on borrowed time and, with Sinn Féin on the rise, a stint in opposition is inevitable.'

Political annihilation can come swiftly at the ballot box, but for Fine Gael, a mass exodus of sitting TDs will happen ahead of any election day.

Now on its third government term, the third of which is still categorised by some as one that should never have been, many in the party feel they are now on borrowed time and, with Sinn Féin on the rise, a stint in opposition is inevitable.