Carey: General election in February at the earliest

THE general election is likely to take place in February at the earliest, according to a senior minister who said the Green Party will need to stay in government longer if they want their wish list of legislation enacted.

The junior coalition partners want legislation on climate change, corporate donations and a directly elected Lord Mayor of Dublin passed before they exit Government which they pledged to do before the end of January.

However, Minister for Community Affairs Pat Carey said whether they get around to bringing the bills before the Dáil “depends on how long the party feel they can stay around to make sure they get passed”.

He said: “As soon as all the legislation which is flowing from the budget is enacted in both Houses, the Taoiseach Brian Cowen will seek to advise the President to dissolve the Dáil.”

Mr Carey added: “It will be at the earliest in February.”

Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton said the Green Party “seem to be having second thoughts” about pulling their coalition support. “They don’t seem to want to leave Government quite so soon.”

However, the FG spokesperson on economic planning said, once the Finance Bill has been passed in January, the momentum for an election will be unstoppable.

“An election campaign will be going on in all but name, and I think that will create momentum for an election earlier than some of the long-term predictions that we’ll still be here on St Patrick’s Day.”

He said a rumour was “doing the rounds” that it will be held on February 24 and he believed “that’s doable”.

Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar, meanwhile, is calling for a moratorium on all appointments to state boards or “other plum positions” between now and the general election.

“If past form is anything to go by, ministers will use their last few weeks in office to stuff state boards and other bodies with political party supporters and other cronies,” he said.