It is time for a general election, a Fine Gael TD has said.
Early indications from the ongoing counts of European and local elections suggest that Government parties do not appear to have suffered a major electoral blow.
Speaking to reporters at the TF Royal count theatre in Castlebar, Co Mayo, Michael Ring said the party has had a “great election”.
Asked if he would support an early general election, the Mayo TD said it was a decision for the Taoiseach but added: “I think Fine Gael would be well to go the country.
“Go to the country in October, not wait. We had two winter elections and I don’t ever want to see a winter election again.
“After Christmas, bad weather, people in bad form and credit bills coming in in February. Now is the time.”
The general election must be called by March next year but senior Government ministers have publicly said that the coalition should run its full term.
Fine Gael appears to have had a “Harris hop” in the polls after the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar as leader of the party earlier this year, leading to Simon Harris taking over that position as well as the role of Taoiseach.
Mr Ring said: “Let’s call a spade a spade. We were in a bad place a few months ago and nobody thought we would lift the party again and people actually thought we’d have to reorganise after the general election, but that’s not the case.
“Now, I have to say that – and I am going to be honest – if there had have been a leadership battle, I would have voted for Paschal Donahoe.
“But I have to say Simon Harris has really, really, really impressed me. He’s done a superb job.”
Mr Ring said he had recently canvassed with the new party leader when he was interrupted by the Burke family, which has staged a number of protests.
“We were being followed but he has them steps. He was running all over the place and I tell ya, even the Burkes couldn’t catch him.”
During a slump in opinion polls, several high-profile party TDs have previously indicated that they will not run in the next general election.
Asked if he expected them to reconsider, Mr Ring said: “Guys might start thinking again.”
Mr Ring refused to confirm whether he himself would run in the general election: “When I make that decision, you’ll be the first to know.
He added: “I haven’t made up my mind. But if I go – see I lost a half stone in this campaign.
“And there were days I had three candidates with me; morning, after dinner, in the evening.
“They were all half my age, but I had them killed by the evening. So I’m ready for action whenever the action comes.”
Also speaking in Castlebar, Fianna Fáil junior minister Dara Calleary said there was a need to be “careful”.
“Local elections are very different from national elections. We stood here in this count centre in May 2019 and then we came back six months later to a very different result. So let’s not get carried away.”
He added: “The energy of the last few weeks goes in now to getting ready for that general election whenever it’s going to be.
“Getting our policies ready, our candidates elected, getting team out there.
“And what people want is us to focus on their problems, not on political parlour games.”
Asked if it should be sooner rather than later, Mr Calleary replied: “Way above my pay grade but I want a budget done – still a lot of issues, cost of living is still a major for people.”
