LAST UPDATE | 20 Oct

TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS has said that he expects the general election will take place in 2024, following months of insistence that the government will run full term.

Speaking to reporters in Kilternan today, Harris said, “I expect the election to be in 2024″ when asked if it would be held this year. 

“There will be a general election soon. It’s important the government concludes its work. We have to get the Finance Bill passed,” he said. 

He added that there was a focus on a number of other key pieces of legislation, as well as housing, which he wanted to see through before the dissolution of the Dáil.

Harris told reporters that he wouldn’t surprise the other government leaders with an announcement.

Speculation over the date of the election has been swirling in recent weeks, with Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman calling for an election date of 29 November, and asking the Taoiseach to bring “clarity” to the situation. 

The three coalition leaders are due to meet tomorrow. 

Harris’ comment comes as Minister for Justice Helen McEntee was today confirmed as the new deputy leader of the party following Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys’ announcement that she would not be contesting the election.

A new opinion poll conducted by the Sunday Times projected unchanged support for Fine Gael, while controversy-ridden Sinn Féin has experienced a 2% drop in public opinion.

Fianna Fáil, which today confirmed Minister for Finance and deputy leader Jack Chambers as director of elections in the soon to be announced general election, experienced a 1% drop in support. 

Support for Independents rose by 2%.