Excluding those who have resigned their seat to take up another political position or ill-health, there have been just a handful of resignations from parliament over principle or controversy down the years. Who are they? And why have there been so few?

Fionnuala looks delighted to see the Sports Minister.

We’ve gone through the list of ministerial pensions to see precisely how each living former minister is hit by the various levies.

Jim McDaid will be handsomely rewarded for his 21 years as a TD and seven as a minister as he retires.

Mary Coughlan has said that she regrets Jim McDaid decision to resign.

One of the two independent TDs the government needs for its majority says the Budget is in ‘serious danger’ of defeat.

His former colleague Conor Lenihan said the resignation would “make the numbers” very tight for the government to hold majority.

Jim McDaid’s shock resignation leaves the government in a slight majority – so long as those on board stay on board.