General election this year, Taoiseach confirms

After much speculation, Prime Minister Simon Harris has confirmed that a general election in Ireland will take place before the end of 2024.

Under Irish law, the same Dáil shall not continue to exist for more than five years from the date of its first meeting. As such, the current 33rd Dáil must be dissolved by the President of Ireland at the request of the Prime Minister no later than 19 February 2025, and a general election must be called before 22 March 2025.

“There is no great mystery in this and let me try to be helpful; there will be a general election this year,” Harris told reporters in Dublin on Monday, according to The Irish Mirror.

“The government will complete its work. This will be done in an orderly manner.’

The Taoiseach said he, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and Minister Roderic O’Gorman – the three leaders of Ireland’s current coalition government – ​​have outlined a series of work to be completed before the end of this government. The work includes the Finance Bill and setting housing targets.

Harris said the “lifespan of this Dáil is very limited.”

He added that Fine Gael will contest the election as a “standalone political party” and will not have a “transfer pact” with Fianna Fáil or the Greens.

The Prime Minister’s comments on Monday come a day after he told reporters that his “expectation is that there will be a general election in 2024”.

“However, I have said very clearly that I am going to do it in a respectful manner,” Harris said on Sunday. “I have no desire to surprise my coalition colleagues.”

Although a date for Ireland’s next general election has not yet been officially confirmed, TD Roderic O’Gorman, the head of Ireland’s Green Party, said on Friday – before the Taoiseach announced an election was likely to be held this year – that he would like to See the elections on November 29.

“I think the 29th is the right date,” O’Gorman told reporters in Dublin on Friday, according to The Irish Examiner.

“This is probably the time to give the Irish people some certainty about the election date,” O’Gorman said.

‘On Monday I have a meeting with the two coalition leaders. What I am going to say to them is that I think we need to provide clarity and I will say that my preference is for elections in November – November 29.”

The last general election in Ireland took place on 8 February 2020. Fianna Fáil (38 seats), Sinn Féin (37 seats) and Fine Gael (35 seats) emerged as the three largest parties; 80 seats are needed to form a coalition government. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael eventually formed a coalition with The Green Party.

Earlier this year, Ireland went to the polls for local, European and Limerick mayoral elections. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael won the most seats, although both parties lost seats at the last local elections in 2019.

Meanwhile, a Sunday Times/Opinions poll published on October 20 showed that Fine Gael is currently the most popular party in Ireland.

🚨SUNDAY TIMES/OPINIES POLL🚨

Fine Gael 24 (no change since September) Independents/Others 22 (+2)
Fianna Fail 19 (-1)
Sinn Fein 16 (-2)
Social Democrats 5 (nc)
Labor 5 (+1)
Greens 4 (nc)
PBP Solidarity 3 (nc)
Aonú 2 (nc)

Survey of 1,005 adults, conducted from October 10 to 16

MoE +/-3pcs

— Hugh O’Connell (@oconnellhugh) October 19, 2024