Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN has played down the reported suggestion by one of his party colleagues that the Government will call the general election next week.
The Fianna Fáil leader told reporters that “work has to be done” before he, Taoiseach Simon Harris and Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman meet to discuss a date for the country to go to the polls.
Rumours about a November election date, which had been swirling for months, have only intensified in the wake of last week’s giveaway budget.
The Irish Independent reported this morning that Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told Fianna Fáil activists at his selection convention in Wicklow that he expects the election will be called next week, and be held in the first few weeks of November.
The Wicklow TD’s prediction “caused surprise” at the convention, the paper reported.
When asked about his party colleague’s comments by reporters today, the Tánaiste and Defence Minister said Donnelly “had just come through a convention”.
“I’d say he wants to galvanise the troops and his canvassers. He joins many people who are speculating,” Micheál Martin said.
“In my view, the Finance Bill has to be done first, Again, the three party leaders will, in the fullness of time, discuss this. The logistics are important.”
Martin said it looks like the Gambling Bill will be passed, and he hopes the Mental Health Bill and the Social Protection Bill will also go through the Dáil.
“The work has to be done and I’m not sure all of the commentators are looking at the logistics to getting all that done.”
Asked if he would meet with Taoiseach Simon Harris and Green Party leader Roderic Ó Gorman next week to talk about a date, Martin said: “But sure we meet every week.”
“I’ve said enough about elections,” he added.
Yesterday, Taoiseach Simon Harris told reporters in Washington that there would be no surprise announcements for the other coalition leaders about the election date.
“I’ve consistently said, as I’ve heard the other coalition leaders say, that we want the government to finish its work, want the government to end well,” Harris said.
“The determination as to when the work is finished and how the government ends well is something that I will discuss with my coalition colleagues in the weeks ahead.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
We currently have the weakest ever leaders of this country. I taught “Socks” was bad, but Mehole n Harris couldn’t even open a selection box let alone run a country.
Shantytown did give us the most expensive hospital I don’t know how people trust his party with our finances. It is costing us, the workers, 2 billion for that alone.
Dj Harris and Tidy Boy Martin back to back in the Dail spinning the finest of Irish muck
@9QRixo8H: they gave us full employment, budget surpluses, reducing waiting lists, unprecedented levels of housing, plus will protect our democracy.
@9QRixo8H: I take it you’re a part time security guard; you’re never off this site.
@Pat Hazzard: Imagine what they could give us if we didn’t have bike sheds, security huts, opw no accountability, BAM children’s hospital, etc etc etc etc
@Pat Hazzard: Sleveen
@Pat Hazzard: well they also gave us the most expensive children’s hospital. All the other over spends. They stood over two of the worst referrdums this country has had, botched the wording. All to make sure disabled people and carers had absolutely no right to care in this country.
They are sending our sick out of the state costing billions to hide just how bad our health system is, that they can’t perform simple eye surgeries.
They leave children with scoliosis languish in pain daily.
And hand money to chi who like magicians make it dissappear.
Protect our democracy, while isreal fire on our peace keepers.
And they do photo ops while saying nothing or doing nothing. Housing??? worst Housing crisis in living history.
Undefendable can’t even reach their own targets.
@Shimo F: well obviously you need to take a look at the leaking boat that is sinn fein
Omg this man has some nerve, he got in the last time on a wing and a prayer.
Shantytown got in on the 15th count, wouldn’t it be wonderful if he had to take a real job for once in his life after the next election
@9QRixo8H: The only experience he has is being a bluffer! Nobody could ever take that away from him
@9QRixo8H: it’s how PR-STV works lad
Martin speaking with a forked tounge.
Are we still spying on the Russian spy, spying on us. Just goes to show how unsackable civil servants are.
No point from election ,if you or any FFG wins again .
It’s like you ask you want ice-cream with garlic or onion sprinkle
@sakk sa: look at sinn fein a party imploding
This gowl of a man has been haunting the halls of government for nearly 3 decades and what has he achieved? He arguably has had a hand in every single one of the major balls ups in that time. We have a non functioning country BECAUSE of his weak leadership and decision making in that time. Just look at his spiteful wizened face when questioned hard by one of the non RTE journalists. He doesn’t deserve another term. We need to vote FFG out.
Me’Hole is so crooked, he couldn’t lie straight in his bed!
Is mehole the real cobalt ?
@Jb Walshe: No, it’s intelligence the Russians are said to be looking for, that would rule him out.
@Jb Walshe: that’s funny. More likely to be fg, just name him. And be done with it.
One says election another plays it down, they meet every week and never know what each other is doing or saying, bullshitter only qualification needed to be a politician.
FF/FG will be returned so I don’t see why they don’t call an election
This is the same fella that stood up in the Dail and stated that the State’s banks “were not bailed out. He has a habit of distorting reality. It is hard to believe a word that comes out of his mouth.
@John Dennehy:
Shin Fein voted with the government to bale out the bankers
How do people vote for these leaches
@Chris Lane: because they aren’t morons, nor terrorists.
Those two monsters involved in the death of that poor little 4 year old boy should be locked up and the key thrown away. The most sickening and saddest thing I’ve read in a long time. RIP to the little fella.
Need a proper political government that can be challenged. Current to big. No one can hold them accountable except themselves. . Amazing how they disagreed on most if not all things. Before. .now. they agree on everything. … need to only have one party in regardless of who or size. . Should be peoples choice. Whether fg ff sf or any others. .
Current folk are in theire fluffy easy chairs. And just blew the budget to get votes.
Don’t forget they are still snaky politicians who avoid answering questions and will do anything to keep their bum on a seat until there cushy pension truck rolls in
Accountability has to be restablished or we will have more bike sheds and security hut to visit!
@Brian Martin: They tell us they are answerable to SIPO, we have seen this week how SIPO have been exposed, it’s nothing short of criminal. White Collar Crime is well & truly abetted at the top level in Ireland, these Crooks put the Mafia in the halfpenny place. We need something more radical to reclaim our country.
Mehole wants to get his act together and get them Irish soldiers home before they start shooting them out there. Let’s face it all them people out there involved in the so called war don’t give a flying f- – - who’s who out there. It will be ok until some of our boys get killed out there. Sooner there’s an election the better.
Martin should have stepped down 6 years ago. Now he has the honour of being the worst ever leader!
@Toby Thedogk: Without doubt, 17 years at the top table as Minister, Tanaiste, Taoiseach, he has brought us record Homelessness, record Rental prices, record Waiting lists, a Housing Crisis, an Immigration crisis, Health Service at the point of collapse, Schools at bursting point, a Cost of Living Crisis with extortionate Energy, Fuel, Insurance, Groceries & Rental prices. Add in the most expensive Hospital, Bike Shelter & Security Hut ever built & not forgetting he was one of those that Bankrupted the State, that lead to people losing their Homes & some their Lives, that lead to decades of Austerity & then he had the neck to deny that the Banks were bailed out. A man whose legacy is all of the above.
@SV3tN8M4: stood over the organ retention scandal, stealing organs of people who died in this state and selling them. had to step down as minister of health.
Call it – FG/FF will be back in power. SF has imploded.
@Jonny Dun: are you still singing with grannies intentions
Love all these same same stories filling the journal pages,don’t forget we haven’t forgot the scandalous overspend these thieves have done with our money. Fkn flake of a news site !
Give me a big thumbs up if you’re voting Green!!!
Greens don’t seem to bother me. It’s housing which is the problem from successive FF and FG govts
@Finian McG: sorry I meant to say NOT voting Green
I mean are we dealing with Kim Philby.
At this point in time, a lot more people just aren’t buying the spin anymore and see these incompetent so called leaders and ministers for what they are. Only chance of their reelection is due to lack of alternatives or fear of the alternative option. Fffg realising this now and with use smear tactics to blacken the name of opposition.
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson:
Shin Fein blacking their own name by their inaction to rape and kiddy fiddling
@H Woo: Many cover ups for child abuse by all parties. If you start throwing stones, many windows would be broken in gov buildings. Sure fg is running a guy who thinks it just high jinks to sensually abuse another guy at a festival. What goes on in the ruggers changing room and all that.
@Colette Byrne: sexually
Early the better get the muppet out
22nd Nov
The Fianna Fail party have told some lies over the decades, Stephen Donnelly tells his selection Convention the Election will be in November, Martin says the opposite, who is telling us porkies ?
@SV3tN8M4: well michael has a history of porkies.
Lest we forget think hard think long before you cast your vote to form the next government, it’s imperative you make the right choice.
As long as Mary Muslim Lou and her pedo party are kept out of government that’s all that matters
@Trump 24: Mary Lou is going to be made look a complete fool by the army sex Council
This government should stay full term. Really competent people. Never been better.
He couldn’t tell the truth if his life depended on it
Martin is a decent guy and those who deny his honesty are deliberately ignoring his quality
have your say