Tanaiste Micheal Martin(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Country will almost certainly go to the polls before Christmas

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has dampened down speculation on the election date stressing the importance of the current Government lasting its full term

by · Irish Mirror

The country will almost certainly go to the polls before Christmas as a rift between the leading Government parties over the announcement of a date widens.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has dampened down speculation on the election date stressing the importance of the current Government lasting its full term. But with his party’s candidates already going from door-to-door canvassing, there is mounting pressure for a date to be named.

There is growing speculation that the election will be held early next month and will be announced in the coming weeks. A source said: “It’s getting to be a bit of a farce at this stage as everyone knows there’s going to be an election before Christmas.

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“The posters and leaflets have been printed and the sitting TDs are staying in their constituencies to drum up support so they can’t understand why a date can’t be named.”

It is also understood the Taoiseach is under pressure from some of his own TDs to call the election before Christmas on the back of recent opinion polls which puts Fine Gael as the country’s most popular party.

The Taoiseach is expected to seek a dissolution of the Dail as early as October 18, when he returns from a three-day Brussels engagement.

(left to right) Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Micheal Martin and Taoiseach Simon Harris during a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Dublin Castle. Picture date: Friday September 13, 2024.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has held firm and insisted an election will happen “when the work of Government is finished” and “in a manner that is collegiate”.

Last night, Mr Martin insisted the timing of the next general election was agreed “four and a half years ago” as he continues to insist the Government will run until February. However, he refused to answer questions from the Irish Sunday Mirror about whether he would like Mr Harris to end the speculation.

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