Election will be called 'when work of Govt finished'

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said the calling of a general election will happen "when the work of Government is finished" and "in a manner that is collegiate".

Mr Harris this morning again insisted the Government is "getting on with the job" and wants to finish its work.

He said he will seek a dissolution of Dáil Éireann "at the right moment in time".

"It is constitutionally my prerogative as to when to seek a dissolution of the Dáil, that is true. That's something I take very seriously. It's a judgment call that every Taoiseach has to exercise."

"But I also want to do things in a respectful manner always, and I've been very clear about that," he added.

He also commented that he would not be providing "a running commentary" on when an election would be held, adding that he did not believe any of his predecessors ever did either.

"I'm not obligated to provide an hourly or daily updating on my thought process in relation to the dissolution of the Dáil," he said.

"It'll happen in due course, when the work of Government is finished, and in a manner that is collegiate, because I think this Government is working well together."

On the issue of campaigning, the Taoiseach said: "There isn't a political party in Dáil Éireann who isn't campaigning in their constituencies, because that's what you do when you get towards the end of a Government."

"So, let nobody in any way, shape or form, suggest that one party is campaigning and another isn't."

"That's what happens when you're in the final months of a government," he added.

His comments come after Tánaiste Micheál Martin insisted last night that nothing has changed around the timing of a general election.

Mr Martin told the Dublin Chamber annual dinner that there have been no discussions about finishing the Government's mandate early.

The Taoiseach said he heard what Mr Martin said last night and he said "quite frankly, it's much of what I said."

"The Tánaiste said he wanted to see the finance bill passed, so do I, the Tánaiste said he wanted to see the social welfare bill passed, so do I, and he also referenced things like the mental health bill and the defamation bill, which I've also referenced in recent days the other one I'd referenced was the housing targets."