LAST UPDATE | 7 Nov
TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS is in Budapest for an informal European Council meeting as political parties gear up for the general election.
But back at home, the Green Party has hit out at “sniping” from coalition party leaders.
After weeks of speculation, Harris announced yesterday evening that the election will be held on Friday 29 November.
The Fine Gael leader made the announcement on RTÉ’s Six One News, stating that he will ask President Michael D Higgins to dissolve the Dáil on Friday.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin scooped the Taoiseach yesterday by announcing that the general election will be called this Friday.
Beating Harris to the announcement, Martin told Virgin Media News that it is his understanding the election will be called on Friday when the Taoiseach would travel to Áras an Uachtaráin.
“We’re looking forward to it. You can see people out and about already in terms of campaigning, but it will be on Friday,” the Tánaiste said.
In order for the Dáil to be dissolved, the Taoiseach must first go to Áras an Uachtaráin and ask the President to dissolve the current Dáil.
Once the President dissolves the Dáil, the clock officially starts ticking and a general election must be held within 30 days.
Speaking today, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said his party has dealt with “sniping” every day for four and a half years in Government.
O’Gorman also revealed he had been informed of Harris’s decision to announce the election date publicly just 10-15 minutes before the broadcast interview.
The Green leader had previously put forward November 29 as his preferred date for the vote.
When questioned on whether Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin had been informed hours earlier, O’Gorman said: “I don’t know, did the Tánaiste know or did he make an educated guess but that’s when I found out.”
Addressing how Greens would deal with expected criticism from their coalition colleagues Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil during the campaign, O’Gorman said: “Well, we’ve dealt with sniping every day across the last four and a half years and we’ve still delivered key parts of our programme for Government, key parts of our manifesto.”
He added: “The polls as they stand now do suggest the two major parties (Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil) will be back in the next Government.
“I think if it’s a Government just made up of them or maybe topped up with a few Independents, I think would be a very different government to the one we just had over the last four and a half years – we won’t see those innovative policies in terms of climate, helping families and public transport.”
While political parties are kicking off their election campaign events, Harris travelled to Budapest where he participated in a roundtable discussion with European leaders on economic security.
Always good to catch up with @Keir_Starmer. Today we’re at a meeting of 37 leaders at the European Political Community. pic.twitter.com/ZUmiXV79eS
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) November 7, 2024
This evening, he will attend a working dinner of the European Council which will take stock of the outcome of the US elections, as well as other foreign policy issues, including Georgia and the situation in the Middle East.
The European Council will also meet on Friday morning to focus on the economic competitiveness challenges facing Europe.
Speaking to reporters in Budapest, Harris said he looks forward to taking part in the first collective discussion of the outcome of the US elections with his European Council counterparts.
He added that Ireland will work with the Trump administration, as the country did during his previous term in office, but should prepare for the impact of his presidency on the economy and Ukraine.
“President Trump has won the election in the United States decisively, and obviously the European Union and Ireland will now work with the democratically elected president-elect of the United States,” said Harris.
Harris noted that US elections “are always consequential beyond their own borders”, and both Ireland and the EU will “assess what President Trump may do” – and what impact this could have on the economy and European security.
Speaking ahead of the trip, Harris remarked that he would highlight his profound concern about the continuing catastrophe in the Middle East, especially the new legislation adopted in Israel that will prevent UNRWA carrying out its vital and life-saving work.
“There is no alternative to UNRWA. Preventing it from fulfilling its UN-given mandate will only heap more misery and hardship on the Palestinian people and therefore must be condemned,” he said.
Once the meeting has concluded, Harris is expected to land back in Dublin on Friday afternoon, where he is then expected to visit the president.
Harris told tonight’s parliamentary party meeting last night that Fine Gael “can win the next election by constant canvassing and wearing out the shoe leather”.
The Fine Gael leader said his party will “bring the campaign of all campaigns”.
He said Ireland is a great country and urged party colleagues not to let anyone talk this country down. He said Fine Gael’s team “have a great plan for the next five years”.
The Taoiseach said Fine Gael’s team of 80 candidates in 43 constituencies brings great energy and experience, but said nothing could be taken for granted and all must work for every single vote.
He said Fine Gael will have exciting proposals on childcare, supporting families and protecting our older people. He told the meeting that Fine Gael will double the number of houses built if they enter government again.
He said the party has plans to help families with the cost of living, increase Garda numbers, reduce the cost of childcare and help businesses thrive.
-With additional reporting from Press Association
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