How prepared are the parties for a general election?

Fine Gael has 80 candidates selected, of whom 57 are sitting TDs or senators, 14 are councillors and nine are non-public representatives. Some 25 are first-time general election candidates. The party has four constituency tickets left to finalise. These are Kerry, Sligo-Leitrim, Cork South-West and Dún Laoghaire where the national executive must consider whether to remove Maria Bailey.

Fianna Fáil has held conventions in all constituencies, with 75 candidates selected to date. It ...