Election date will be in ‘the best interest for Ireland’, Harris claims
By Cillian Sherlock, PA
The Taoiseach has said “the best interest for Ireland” is a consideration for the timing of a general election.
Simon Harris said his view on calling the election has been “consistent”.
The Fine Gael leader had previously said the Government should go its "full term” before an election is called.
While it is the constitutional prerogative of the Taoiseach to decide the date of the general election, Mr Harris has said he will consult the coalition leaders in advance of any announcement.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, he said he wanted Government to “finish the work that is underway”.
“When is the right time for Ireland to have a general election? When is the right time for me to ask the people of Ireland to renew my mandate?” he said.
“I’ve been Taoiseach of this country for just over six months, I very much look forward to putting my case to the people and asking the people to give me an opportunity to have a mandate to be Taoiseach for the time ahead.
“I will want this Government to end well, because this Government works well.
“We have had more than four-and-a-half years now, we have delivered five budgets, and I will discuss in due course with my colleagues when I believe the right time is.”
He added: “I want to see when is the right time, when the work that is underway is completed, when is there a proper space to have an election, and when is that time best for Ireland.”
On Wednesday, Tánaiste Micheál Martin appeared more open to the possibility of a pre-Christmas election if the Finance Bill is passed.
Speaking to the Irish Times Inside Politics podcast, Mr Martin said his view remained that the Government has “work to complete”.
He said: “To a large extent there are two dates for this election – one is end of November/beginning of December, or February.
“The gap between November and February isn’t huge.”
He added: “The Finance Bill will be the key piece of legislation and that scheduling is in for the first week of November for committee stage.
“If it’s the desire of some and others to do things earlier, we’d need to game that and people would need to work through the timelines around critical pieces of legislation.”
