A veteran Clare politician is expressing confidence that a General Election will take place this Autumn.
As the dust settles from the Local Elections, speculation is mounting as to when Clare’s electorate will have the chance to decide who’ll represent the county in the Dáil going forward.
The 34th Dáil will be the largest in the history of the state with the number of seats increasing by 14 to 172 and the number of constituencies going from 39 to 43.
If the current Government serves its full term, the next General Election will be held in March of next year.
Since taking office in April, Taoiseach Simon Harris has dismissed suggestions of an early election on several occasions.
However, with the election of four sitting TDs to the European Parliament last month, namely Clare Independent Michael McNamara, Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen and Sinn Féín’s Kathleen Funchion, it’s widely believed the Government will call a General Election rather than entertain four separate by-elections.
Fine Gael meanwhile has set a deadline of September 22nd for candidate selection which is being interpreted as a strong hint that an election is on the horizon in the coming months.
Former Clare Fine Gael TD and senator Madeleine Taylor-Quinn expects people to be casting their votes in early November at the very latest.
For a General Election to be called, the 33rd Dáil must be dissolved by President Michael D Higgins at the request of the Taoiseach no later than February 19th of next year.
The most recent Red C poll puts Fine Gael as the most popular party in Ireland at 21%, followed by Sinn Féin at 20%, Fianna Fáil at 19% and Independents at 15%.
Former Clare Fianna Fáil Minister Tony Killeen believes Irish voters are well-versed in politics and cast their ballots in a measured fashion.
You can listen to the full interview here:
