By Rebecca Black, PA
The government has important work to complete before a general election will be called, the Tánaiste has said.
There has been speculation that an election will be called before Christmas, but the current coalition could go full term, which would mean an election in early 2025.
On Friday, Taoiseach Simon Harris said the next general election will come “in due course”.
Micheál Martin said he and coalition partners Mr Harris and Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman meet on a weekly basis to discuss the Dáil agenda.
Speaking in Dublin on Saturday, Mr Martin said he is “very clear on where he stands” on an election date, and pointed out the Bills he wants to see completed in this mandate.
“The logistics of the next while are interesting, the Finance Bill has to happen, the Oireachtas will want to scrutinise that, and then you’ll have the social protection measures, and then you have the Mental Health Bill, Defamation Bill and the Gambling Bill that we would like to get over the line,” he said.
“The Planning Bill looks like it will get over the line fairly quickly, and that’s essential in terms of house building.
“Three party leaders have said they want to go the full distance and until that changes I really have no further comment to make.”
