‘I like elections on a Friday,’ says Taoiseach but polling date not revealed
Simon Harris: 'I like elections on a Friday. Friday is a good day to have an election. So therefore, there’s not that many Fridays to choose from.' Picture: Grainne Ni Aodha/PA Wire
Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he would like to have the upcoming general election on a Friday, narrowing the possible dates it will take place.
It comes as Mr Harris met with coalition partners Micheál Martin and Roderic O'Gorman on Monday night, with the three leaders agreeing in principle that the election would take place this year.
Speaking ahead of today's Cabinet meeting, Mr Harris said the poll would take place on a Friday, but only once the Finance Bill was passed. He said Fridays were a "good day to have an election".
Mr Harris said he would not begin an election campaign without having first passed the Finance Bill, which gives legal basis to budget measures.
Speaking on Tuesday morning, Mr Harris said: “I will decide, in line with the Constitution, the appropriate date to have the election.
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“I like elections on a Friday. Friday is a good day to have an election. So therefore, there’s not that many Fridays to choose from.
“But right now, it’s important that people put their shoulders to the wheel in this place [Government Buildings] and in Leinster House and get the people’s work done, get the Finance Bill done.
“We have a very busy agenda this week.”
On Monday, Finance Minister Jack Chambers said he is willing to alter the timeline of the bill to accommodate a general election. The bill is due before the Finance Committee on November 5 and could be passed the following day, allowing for Mr Harris to dissolve the Dáil on November 7 and hold an election on November 29.
The other date mooted is December 6, though some government TDs fear this is too close to Christmas.
The 2020 general election was held on a Saturday in a bid to increase turnout, but it did not have that effect. Mr Harris said there was "a short window" of dates and there will be an election in "a few short weeks".
He said he had a "fair idea" of which date he would prefer adding that people would know "at least three weeks in advance".
Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will, however, have to plan for the election without veteran TDs following announcements by Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys and Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill that they will not contest the election. In total, 18 of Fine Gael's 35 TDs will not seek re-election.
Elsewhere, Mr Harris also welcomed the signing of an extradition treaty with the UAE, which he says shows "the net is closing in" on organised crime gangs.
"There is nowhere to hide. If you engage in organised crime, if you bring misery, death and destruction to communities through drug dealing empires, we're coming to get you."
Mr Harris also said fines for those who do not engage with jobseeking services will increase, saying people need to "play ball" with the State.
The Taoiseach also said he was "hoping for a breakthrough" in the "utterly horrifying" case of Kyran Durnin. He said the eight-year-old was "failed" and that he would "look to get to the bottom of how he was failed".
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