General Election fever intensifies as Green Party leader names preference

Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman has stated that a General Election should be held in late November.

Speaking to press this Friday morning, Minister O'Gorman said that he would dicuss having an election on November 29 with his fellow coalition party leaders.

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of Ireland stated his preference to hold the election before Christmas, and that "the 29th [of November] is the date to go".

He said he's found that "people are getting sick and tired of the 'will they - won’t they?'" while out canvassing.

"Now is the time to bring some degree of certainty to the Irish people in terms of the election date," he told reporters this Friday, October 18.

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Minister O' Gorman, who was elected as Green Party leader only a few months ago, said he would discuss the matter with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail party leaders Simon Harris and Micheál Martin on Monday.

"That gives us the opportunity to get those final pieces of legislation through," he said, refering to the Maternity Protection Bill, allowing women who are seriously ill defer their maternity leave, the Hate Crime Bill and the Finance Bill, which gives effect to the measures announced in the Budget earlier this month.

 O’Gorman said a dissolution of the Dail could happen in early November following the passing of these key pieces of legislation.

He added: “The 29th gives us a clear three weeks and a week after recess to get those final pieces of legislation over the line.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris earlier this week stated that he "is considering what date would be the best interest for Ireland", and has previously affirmed his opinion many times that the government should go to "full term", meaning a February 2025 election.

On Wednesday, Tanaiste Micheal Martin appeared more open to the possibility of a pre-Christmas election if the Finance Bill is passed, saying he remained of the view that the Government has “work to complete” but adding that the gap between November and February “isn’t huge”.

Minister for Finance Jack Chambers said he expects the Finance Bill to come before the Oireachtas on November 5, and while he is "open" to a general election either before or after Christmas, he said that was "a matter for party leaders to discuss".