Election should be on November 29, O’Gorman says

The election should be held on November 29, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has said.

He is the first leader of the coalition parties to put forward a date, while the Taoiseach stressed he would not engage with his partners on the matter “through the media”.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr O’Gorman said it was his preference to hold the election before Christmas.

He said: “I think the 29th is the date to go.”

Mr O’Gorman said he will be telling the other two coalition leaders on Monday about the need to “give clarity” to the public.

The Green Party leader said: “I’ve been out on the doors even just last night and I’m starting to get the sense that people are getting a little tired of the ‘will they, won’t they’.

“Probably now is the time to give some degree of certainty to the Irish people in terms of the election date.”

He added: “My preference is for a November election, on November 29. I think that gives us the opportunity to get those final pieces of legislation through.”

Earlier this week, Taoiseach Simon Harris said he is considering what date would be “the best interest for Ireland” while refusing to be drawn on whether that would be before Christmas.

The Fine Gael leader had previously said the Government should “go 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.

Following Mr O’Gorman’s comments on Friday, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said: “The Taoiseach has consistently stated he will engage with the coalition leaders before deciding.

“He has also consistently stated he will not do that through the media.”

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin agreed that there was a need for clarity on an election date but added: “This is something we can deal with next week – I’m not going to get into specific dates.”

He reiterated his position from earlier in the week that it was his view the election should be held in late November/early December or February.

The Fianna Fail leader added that the Government still had work to do: “The Finance Bill has to get done, and it has to be done properly.

“That’s the only issue, it seems to me – if Roderic is anxious to get it early.

“Obviously the Taoiseach will have a view as well. But to me, the Finance Bill is key.”

Asked if Mr O’Gorman had overstepped the mark by putting forward a date, Mr Martin said: “Politics is politics – I’m not too excited about it.”

Mr O’Gorman said a dissolution of the Dail could happen in early November following the passing of key pieces of legislation.

He added: “The 29th gives us a clear three weeks and a week after recess to get those final pieces of legislation over the line.”

Following the passing of the Gambling Bill, Mr O’Gorman said his attention was now on the Finance Bill, hate crime legislation and the Maternity Protection Act.

He predicted that the legislation to allow women with serious illnesses to defer their maternity leave would get through the Oireachtas next week.

Minister for Finance Jack Chambers said he expects the Finance Bill to come before the Oireachtas on November 5.

He said on Friday he does not expect it to come before the Dail before then.

Mr Chambers said: “I expect the Finance Bill to go before the Oireachtas again on November 5, (and) to pass second stage this week. Obviously on the wider point, party leaders will discuss that issue in the next period ahead.

“But for me, the focus is on enacting all of the measures that we set out in Budget 2025.

“In the aftermath of party leaders having a general discussion, I can consider it at that point, but I expect the Finance Bill to go before the Oireachtas on November 5.”

He added: “I’m open to it (general election) either before or after Christmas. That’s a matter for party leaders to discuss.”

Elsewhere on the legislative agenda, Justice Minister Helen McEntee – who refused to be drawn on her preferred date for the election – said the hate crime legislation would be enacted next week.

Also speaking on Friday, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said the Government had significant work left to do but added: “I think it can be done in the timeframe that has been outlined by Roderic.”

Asked if he would like the election to be on November 29, the Fianna Fail TD said: “I’m not getting into speculation on dates – that’s above my pay grade.”

He added: “Everyone knows an election is in a matter of weeks or months anyways.”

As the minister with the responsibility for setting the length of the campaign between 21 and 28 days, he said he would be guided by the final decision of the three coalition leaders.