Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman calls for November 29 election

Speculation in Leinster House reached fever pitch this week, with many politicians suggesting that the election will be held on November 29.

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has called for a general election to take place on November 29.

The call will put significant pressure on Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin to make their opinions on an election known.

Speculation in Leinster House reached fever pitch this week, with many politicians suggesting that the election will be held on November 29.

READ MORE: Taoiseach refuses to be drawn on pre-Christmas election after Tánaiste remarks

READ MORE: General election speculation spikes as Tanaiste opens door to pre-Christmas poll

Speaking at a housing event in west Dublin, Mr O’Gorman stated that this would be his preferred date and will say this to the other leaders next Monday.

“I’ve been out on the doors and I’m starting to get the sense people are getting a little tired of the ‘will they, won’t they’ and probably now’s the time to give some degree of certainty to the Irish people in terms of the election date,” he said.

“I’ll be meeting the two Coalition leaders on Monday. What I’ll be saying to them is that I think we need to give clarity.

“I’ll be saying my preference is for a November election, for November 29. I think that gives us the opportunity to get those final pieces of legislation through.”

He said he envisages legislation being passed in the coming weeks and a dissolution of the Dáil in early November.

The Tánaiste said earlier this week that he would be open to a pre-Christmas election if all required legislation was passed.

Speaking in Cork, Micheál Martin said there will be clarity on the election date “this week”.

He would not be drawn on November 29, but restated that there is a possibility of having a pre-Christmas election if all required legislation is passed.

"I would agree that there's a need for clarity at this stage, but I think that this is something that we can deal with next week," he told reporters.

“I'm not going to get into specific dates. I think I've already made my position known earlier in the week in terms of the next general election.

“I think it was important we got our planning legislation through. I'm delighted we got the gambling legislation through, which was a huge effort by Minister James Browne.

“I always felt we needed to get work done before the general election because we're here to represent people.

“Now, the finance bill has to get done, and it has to be done properly. That's the only issue, it seems to me, if Roderic is anxious to get it early.

“Obviously the Taoiseach will have a view as well. But to me, the finance bill is key, and that puts flesh on the bone of the budget.”

Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, the Taoiseach said that he will call the election at the best time for Ireland.

Mr Harris said: "My position on this has actually been very consistent and clear for many, several weeks at this stage, because what I have said, what I've said previously, and what I'll say again today, is I want the Government to finish the work that is underway.

"It is then obviously my constitutional prerogative to seek the most appropriate time, and in my view, in the best interest for Ireland to have a general election.

"When is the right time for Ireland to have a general election? When is the right time for me to ask the people of Ireland to renew my mandate?

"I’ve been Taoiseach of this country for just over six months, I very much look forward to putting my case to the people and asking the people to give me an opportunity to have a mandate to be Taoiseach for the time ahead.

"I will want this Government to end well, because this Government works well.

"We have had more than four and a half years now, we have delivered five Budgets, and I will discuss in due course with my colleagues when I believe the right time is.

"I've always said I won't discuss that through the media respectfully, because I think a good government is built on mutual respect, and that's exactly how I'd like to treat the other coalition leaders, as they treat me.

"I want to see when is the right time, when the work that is under way is completed, when is there a proper space to have an election, and when is that time best for Ireland."

A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said on Friday: "It is the Constitutional prerogative of the Taoiseach to call a general election. The Taoiseach has consistently stated he will engage with the coalition leaders before deciding. He has also consistently stated he will not do that through the media."

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