Taoiseach to seek to dissolve Dáil tomorrow

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has confirmed his intention to ask President Michael D Higgins to dissolve the 31st Dáil on Wednesday.

Mr Kenny told MidWest radio that he would travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet President Michael D Higgins and would then announce an election date.

Asked if the date would be February 26th, as widely speculated, the Taoiseach said he was not going to comment until it was made absolutely formal.

Mr Kenny had earlier told the Cabinet at its final meeting that he would announce when the election would take place on Wednesday.

Tánaiste Joan Burton on Tuesday said she believed “everybody is ready for the off” as she went into Government Buildings to meet Mr Kenny.

“I’ll have a discussion with the Taoiseach and I’ll let you know as soon as possible,” she said.

Mr Burton said she was pleased the first exchequer returns of the year were “very strong and good”.

Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin said he did not know if the Taoiseach would go to the Áras on Wednesday or Thursday and it was “neither here nor there”.

Always concerned

Asked if he was concerned about Labour’s prospects going into the election, he replied that he was always concerned.

“As Mark Twain said our demise has been written many times always to be confounded,” he said.

Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly said the people were “very much ready for the election now”.

Speaking on his way into the Cabinet meeting, Mr Kelly said he was looking forward to the general election.

“I believe when people do focus in on the choices they have for the next Government they will return this Government, because simply put there is no other choice as regards a stable Government and protecting the economy,” Mr Kelly said.

Key staff in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on Monday moved to their election headquarters.

Mr Kenny has already told party figures the campaign will be three weeks long and will be the shortest in the history of the State.

The calling of the election will mean two key pieces of legislation – one giving university status to technological institutes, the other making the paid procurement of sexual services a crime – will not now complete the legislative process.