General election unlikely until April as leaders agree

The prospect of a general election early in the new year looks increasingly unlikely following agreement between the two main parties that a vote should be delayed at least until April.

According to reports, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last night wrote to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin indicating that, in theory, he was open to extending the confidence and supply agreement to allow for a period of government in 2020 until after Easter. Nonetheless, this will depend on other Independent votes in the Dáil.