Dáil meets for final time before election campaign begins

The 33rd Dáil meets for the final time today before the general election campaign begins tomorrow afternoon.

Last night, Taoiseach Simon Harris told a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party that its candidates must canvass constantly in the weeks ahead if it is to win the election.

Weeks of tension for election candidates has now lifted after the Taoiseach confirmed on RTÉ's Six One that polling day will be Friday, 29 November and he will seek the dissolution of the Dáil tomorrow.

Many TDs have already cleared out their offices at Leinster House and they are out on the campaign trail.

The likely themes of the campaign are already evident with opposition parties focusing on housing, the cost of living, stretched health services and the spending of public money on lavish projects like the costly Leinster House bike shed.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin told a Fianna Fáil meeting last night that the party wants to lead the next government.

But he conceded that many people are still grappling with the cost of living and people's safety in towns and cities is an issue which must be tackled.