Ireland’s president has formally dissolved the Dail parliament to mark the start of a general election campaign.
President Michael Higgins began the start of a three-week long campaign today after Taoiseach Simon Harris previously revealed the date he hoped the country would head to the polls.
Mr Harris confirmed the polling date as 29 November on Friday, saying the “time is now right” to ask the Irish people for a new mandate.
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Taoiseach Simon Harris confirmed the election would take place on 29 November
The announcement brings to an end the four-and-a-half-year lifespan of the historic Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Green Party coalition government.
After confirming the dissolution, Mr Harris said it had been the honour of his life to serve as taoiseach.
The Fine Gael leader travelled from government buildings in Dublin to the residence of Mr Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain in the city’s Phoenix Park on Friday afternoon to request the move.
Mr Harris called for a “safe and respectful campaign for all politicians and all their teams” and urged the Irish people to value their vote and use their voice.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin held the position of taoiseach for the first half of the government’s mandate, with Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar taking over in December 2022.
Mr Varadkar resigned from the role earlier this year and was succeeded by party colleague Mr Harris.
The likes of housing, immigration and childcare have all been highlighted by party leaders as key issues in this election.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, speaking after the announcement, said: “There is a clear choice, another Fine Gael or Fianna Fail government or a new government for working people, for families and communities, a government led by Sinn Fein.”
Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald speaking after the Dail was formally dissolved.
Pic: PA
She also listed a number of her party’s policies, including to “advance the preparation for Irish unity”.
“The need for change has never been more urgent, we simply cannot afford another five years of the same government,” she added.
Sinn Fein were Ireland’s main opposition party and are putting forward 71 candidates, Ms McDonald said.
However, the election comes at a difficult time for Sinn Fein as the party battles a number of internal scandals north and south of the border and faces declining support.
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Fianna Fail’s Mr Martin said: “During this government we worked every day on behalf of all of the people of Ireland.
“We made sure that there was a stable and hard-working government in place, helping our country to get through a terrible pandemic and huge international challenges.”
He added: “But this is an election about Ireland’s future. It’s about how we can protect our many strengths and overcome deep challenges.
“Our campaign will put policy before politics. Substance before soundbite.”
After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland’s civil war of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power.
The Green Party joined the administration as a junior partner.
