Taoiseach explains thinking behind Saturday election

Unusually, the General Election will take place on a Saturday, the first time in over a century that the vote will take place at the weekend.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed that he asked President Michael D Higgins to dissolve the 32nd Dáil as the country is set to go to the polls on February 8.

Unusually, the General Election will take place on a Saturday - making it the first time in over a century that the vote will take place at the weekend.