DEMOCRATIC Left was in favour of an autumn election to allow the Government time to carry out its legislative programme, the party leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, has said.
At a news conference in Cork yesterday, at which Mr De Rossa said the recent Budget could never have been delivered by a right wing, Fianna Fail dominated administration, he revealed that the timing of the next election had been discussed "informally" by the Government partners.
My own view is that I would like an election later in the year rather than earlier. There are good reasons for this: we have promised a referendum on Cabinet confidentially; there is a whole body of legislation that we want to see through; and obviously, we would like to see the effect of the Budget trickle down into the economy.
"That does not mean that this Budget was an election one. Anything we do this year will be construed as happening with one eye on the election," he added.
Mr De Rossa said he did not believe the timing of the British general election would affect the Government's decision on when it went to the polls. He said his preference was for an election some time between September and November.
While the three leaders had discussed the matter informally, and while he hoped that his view on the timing would prevail, there was no firm indication yet when the election would be.
The last Fianna Fail/ Progressive Democrats government was characterised by a huge increase in PAYE levels, unemployment, mortgage repayments and bitter in fighting, which repeatedly brought the government to the brink of collapse, Mr De Rossa said.
The election, he added, would present the electorate with a clear choice between groups of parties representing the centre left and centre right.