Paul Hosford: Are Fine Gael departures a damaging drip-feed or a chance for new blood?

The recent departures announced from Fine Gael TDs serves to illustrate the task at hand for Leo Varadkar, Fine Gael leader, as opposed to Leo Varadkar, An Taoiseach

Under the current boundary lines, Fine Gael would enter the election with no sitting TD in ten constituencies. Much of this speaks to the emergence of Sinn Féin as a third force in Irish politics, and the dilution of the Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil duopoly. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

To lose one TD to retirement is unfortunate, but to lose three? Well, that could be start of a worrying trend for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

With John Paul Phelan adding his name to those of Brendan Griffin and Joe McHugh as not going forward at the next election, attention will now turn to six more TDs. They are those on a list drawn up at the start of this Dáil by TD.