Public tired of speculation but timing of election no big deal, says Martin

The public is getting “a bit tired” of constant speculation about the date of the next election, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said, adding that the timing was “no big deal”.

“It could be the end of November, it could be the beginning of December,” he said, speaking to reporters in Cork on Monday.

Describing the difference between an election in December and one in February as “very minor”, he said he had consistently said that if the Government completed its substantial work, he would not oppose an early election.

“The Gambling Bill has now been passed, the Planning Bill has been passed, I have checked out the Mental Health Bill, it will be challenging to get that through. We do have to get the Finance Bill through,” Mr Martin said.

“I have said it to the party leaders that we need to work back from the Finance Bill really in terms of getting that through the Oireachtas properly. Not rushing it, but getting it done competently and properly, and then that is the substantive agenda completed, to all intents and purposes.” 

There will not be a voting pact between the Government parties in the upcoming general election, he said, saying the election will be fought individually on issues.

He cited issues including the cost of living, housing, healthcare, safe, clean and crime-free cities and towns, as well as environmental issues.

“Transfers are fluid … there won’t be any formal pacts, but nonetheless we saw evidence of the voters deciding to transfer in accordance with the preferences and priorities around the economic model we have in this country, the pro-enterprise model that we have, the need to protect and advance that,” he said.

Asked about Cork’s proposed events centre, Mr Martin said a memo is to before Government, and “legal issues have arisen in terms of the need to retender”.

Initially, the consortium that won the tender for the centre, Bam and Live Nation Gaiety, was expected to benefit from €20m in State funding — which was later increased to €50m and then to €57m.

It is understood that a further €30m to €40m will now be required.

There will be “substantially more funding required from the Government”, Mr Martin admitted, but “there are legal obstacles which Government can’t escape”.

He added that he believed Government had to be “honest with the people in terms of presenting the truth as it is”.