TAOISEACH BRIAN COWEN HAS already confirmed that he will travel to the Park today to ask President McAleese to dissolve the 30th Dáil.

What’s going to happen today? Here is a likely timeline of events:

By 11am today, the cabinet will hold its last meeting.

The Taoiseach will deliver his farewell speech to the Dáil at 2.30pm and announce that he’s going to the Áras to seek its dissolution. All of the party leaders will have the opportunity to speak in the Dáil before Cowen heads to the Park.

If the Taoiseach has the support of the majority of the Dáil in seeking a dissolution – which he will – the President will issue a proclamation dissolving the Dáil.

The election date will be confirmed later in the day by Éamon Ó Cuív, Minister for Local Government, but is expected to be Friday, 25 February. After the Dáil has been dissolved, the Clerk of the Dáil will issue the writ for the election, meaning that the election posters can officially begin to go up today.

Posters are not supposed to be erected until after the Dáil has been dissolved and within 30 days of polling day.

Registration

The Register of Electors is published today and can be checked at garda stations, libraries and online at www.checktheregister.ie.

Anyone not on that list and who wants to vote (and is eligible) can have their name added to the supplement to the Register up until 15 days before polling day. The relevant form can be downloaded here: form RFA2 (pdf). If you are on the Register and need to change your address, then use form RFA3 (pdf).