Now our State needs new blood

Noel Dempsey, Dermot Ahern and Beverley Flynn are just a few of the high-profile Fianna Fail politicians who have now announced their plan to bow out and not run in the next elections.

And there is no doubt they will not be the last, especially given the party's recent showing in the polls -- one of the worst results for Fianna Fail, or any Government party for that matter, since polls of this kind began.

For surely many in what is now the most unpopular Government in the history of this State will see the wisdom of not seeing out another election.

We can only hope that, as the cards land after what is sure to be a historic party reshuffle, what young bloods there may be will rise to the challenge of new ideas to invigorate a nation desperate for new ideas and new hope.