Even before the government announces a date for the next general election the campaign is beginning to heat up.
The poll could still be eight months away, but already a dozen TDs have confirmed they will not run.
The two government parties have predictably sustained the heaviest hits, but Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have lost representatives too.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has promised his government won't attempt to buy votes with a giveaway budget in October. Instead, Mr Kenny says the coalition will be responsible and restrict tax cuts and spending rises in the budget to €1.5bn.
Labour's cuts deepest
Labour's wounds are worst, with the party having lost six of its TDs. Among them three of the party's most senior politicians and with them their safe seats in Dublin. Eamon Gilmore in the Dun Laoghaire constituency, Pat Rabbitte in Dublin South-West and Ruairí Quinn in Dublin South-East have all stepped down.
Labour will consequently find it difficult to win enough seats to play a role in the next government.
Eamon Gilmore
Former party leader Eamon Gilmore last month informed his successor Joan Burton he was not seeking an election nomination.
Tánaiste Joan Burton paid tribute to Mr Gilmore, thanking him for his leadership in choosing to enter government following the 2011 General Election.
Ms Burton also said he deserved “lasting credit for his role in bringing about the marriage equality referendum.
Mr Gilmore began his political career as a councillor in 1985, was named Labour party leader in 2007 and served as Tánaiste from 2011 to 2014.
Following election to the Dáil in 1989, Mr Gilmore won re-election at each election in the past 26 years.
Pat Rabbitte, Dublin South-West
In an interview with Newstalk's Lunchtime programme after announcing his plans to retire, Deputy Rabbitte denied that he and his other retiring party colleagues were 'abandoning a sinking sink'.
The former Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and party leader announced his intentions after Eamon Gilmore and Ruairí Quinn made their announcements.
He said their decisions were purely made on the basis of time, “People in other walks of life could retire at 69 and it doesn’t warrant comment,” he said.
Mr Rabbitte's withdrawal comes in spite of a recent private opinion poll that showed he would win his seat if he ran again. He insists the party will retain one of its current two seats in Dublin South-West, where he has been a representative for 26 years.
Ruairí Quinn, Dublin South-East
Ruairí Quinn is the third former leader of the party to step aside.
The Labour TD for Dublin South East stepped down as Education Minister a year ago, ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle, and announced his intention to retire from politics at the end of the current Dáil term.
His political career has spanned more than 40 years and he has had a seat in the Dáil since 1977, serving as a minister in six different departments.
Most recently, his reform programme for the Junior Cert caused him to lose support among teachers.
Jack Wall, Kildare South
Deputy Jack Wall, who has Chaired the Labour Parliamentary Party for the last eight years, became the fourth senior member of the party to reveal that he will not contest the General Election earlier this month.
He told his local radio station KFM “I believe that it’s the right time to go,” adding that he now wants “to move on and to enjoy life.”
Deputy Wall was first elected in 1993.
Michael Conaghan, pictured during his time as Lord Mayor of Dublin. Photo:Leon Farrell Photocall Ireland
Dublin South-Central TD Michael Conaghan declared in June that he would not run for the Dáil again, claiming to have found the job disappointing.
Conaghan was elected to Dublin City Council in 1991, 2004 and 2009. He has said he found it easier to effect change on the Council than in the Dáil.
Sean Kenny, pictured here with Eamon Gilmore
Sean Kenny was elected in the Dublin North-East constituency in 2011.
The Dublin North-East constituency has been redrawn for the next election as part of plans to reduce the number of TDs sitting in the Dáil. The new five seat constituency of Dublin Bay North will merge Dublin North-Centre and Dublin North East for the first time. The party is expected to run Aodhán Ó Ríordáin in this area with 72-year-old Deputy Kenny stepping aside.
Labour has yet to hold its selection convention, but the loss of six strong contenders will certainly be difficult to overcome.
Fine Gael loses three TDs
Fine Gael's Liam Twomey is the latest TD to announce him will not be standing.
The Wexford deputy, who is also chairman of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, is citing family reasons for the move.
Wexford TD Liam Twomey
Frank Feighan, Roscommon-South Leitrim
Roscommon/South Leitrim TD Frank Feighan will not contest the next general election.
The Fine Gael deputy - who faced severe criticism for the government's decision to close Roscommon's emergency department - says it is a personal decision.
Deputy Feighan, who has served as a TD since 2007 and acted as chair of the Good Friday implementation committee, says he will continue to dedicate himself to his work as a TD with 'energy and pride' right up until Polling Day.
Dinny McGinley
Former Junior Minister Dinny McGinley said last year that he would not be running again in Donegal South-West.
First elected to the Dáil in 1982, Deputy McGinley was replaced as Minister for the Gaeltacht by fellow Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh in last year's Cabinet reshuffle.
Elsewhere, Louth Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick is back in the race after briefly withdrawing in June. Party headquarters took responsibility at the time for a misunderstanding between the party and Fitzpatrick.
Fianna Fáil gaining
According to latest RedC poll taken over the 22nd and 24th June 2015 for the Sunday Business Post, support for Fianna Fáil has gained 1% to stand at 20%.
Only one of their sitting TDs has announced his intention to step aside from politics.
Seamus Kirk, Louth. Picture: James Horan/Photocall Ireland
Former Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk was first elected to the Dáil in the November 1982 election and has been returned in each subsequent election.
Sinn Féin push is on
Sinn Féin has admitted it is in election mode and has begun to outline its policies for the next General Election.
Sinn Féin's campaign strategy also includes calling to a million homes across the country to engage with voters on the issues of taxation, and property and water charges.
In spite of its ambitious plans, the party has already lost one TD in Michael Colreavy of the Sligo-North Leitrim constituency.
The party's election preparation is taking place in the shadow of the recent controversial expulsion of one and suspension of another party member in Cork and a subsequent mass resignation of members.
Socialist Party
Joe Higgins says he will be 'energetically assisting activists in Dublin West' rather than running himself.
He made the announcement last April after 40 years in politics.
Joe Higgins, Dublin West
