The Taoiseach has said he will not engage in speculation on an election date through the media after his coalition partner Roderic O’Gorman told reporters it should be held on November 29th.
Mr O’Gorman said it was his belief that Government leaders needed to provide the public with clarity on the matter.
The head of the Green Party said it was his preference to hold the poll before Christmas.
He was the first leader of the coalition parties to put forward a date, telling reporters in Dublin: “I think the 29th is the date to go.”
As Taoiseach, it is the constitutional prerogative of Fine Gael leader Simon Harris to dissolve the Dáil and call the general election.
He has repeatedly said he would only do that after consulting with his Coalition partners, Mr O’Gorman and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin.
The three men are due to discuss the matter on Monday. The election must be held by March 22nd.
Senior Coalition figures have stressed that key pieces of legislation need to get over the line before an election is held.
On Friday, Mr O’Gorman said: “I’m starting to get the sense that people are getting a little tired of the ‘will they, won’t they’.
“Probably now is the time to give some degree of certainty to the Irish people in terms of the election date.”
He added: “My preference is for a November election, on November 29. I think that gives us the opportunity to get those final pieces of legislation through.”
Following Mr O’Gorman’s comments, Mr Harris said he would give clarity on the election date “shortly” but suggested comments to the media were not the appropriate avenue to take.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Mr Harris said: “I certainly won’t be doing my engagement or consultation through the media, but I will be bringing clarity to this matter shortly.”
The Fine Gael leader said he is considering what date would be in the “best interest” of Ireland, having previously argued the Government should “go full term” before an election is called.
Fianna Fáil leader Mr Martin agreed there was a need for clarity on an election date but added: “This is something we can deal with next week – I’m not going to get into specific dates.”
He reiterated his view that the election should either be held in late November/early December or February.
Mr Martin said the Government still had work to do and added: “The Finance Bill has to get done, and it has to be done properly.
“That’s the only issue, it seems to me – if Roderic is anxious to get it early.
“Obviously the Taoiseach will have a view as well. But, to me, the Finance Bill is key.”
Asked if Mr O’Gorman had overstepped the mark by putting forward a date, Mr Martin said: “Politics is politics – I’m not too excited about it.”
Mr O’Gorman said a dissolution of the Dáil could happen in early November following the passing of key pieces of legislation.
He added: “The 29th gives us a clear three weeks and a week after recess to get those final pieces of legislation over the line.”
Following the passing of the Gambling Bill, Mr O’Gorman said his attention was now on the Finance Bill, hate crime legislation and the Maternity Protection Act.
He predicted that the legislation to allow women with serious illnesses to defer their maternity leave would get through the Oireachtas next week.
Minister for Finance Jack Chambers said he expects the Finance Bill to come before the Oireachtas on November 5th.
He said on Friday he does not expect it to come before the Dáil before then.
Asked about his preference for a date, Mr Chambers said: “For me, the focus is on enacting all of the measures that we set out in Budget 2025.
“In the aftermath of party leaders having a general discussion, I can consider it at that point, but I expect the Finance Bill to go before the Oireachtas on November 5th.”
He added: “I’m open to it [general election] either before or after Christmas. That’s a matter for party leaders to discuss.”
Elsewhere on the legislative agenda, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee – who also refused to be drawn on her preferred date for the election – said the hate crime legislation would be enacted next week.
Also speaking on Friday, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said the Government had significant work left to do but added: “I think it can be done in the timeframe that has been outlined by Roderic.”
Asked if he would like the election to be on November 29th, the Fianna Fáil TD said: “I’m not getting into speculation on dates – that’s above my pay grade.”
He added: “Everyone knows an election is in a matter of weeks or months anyways.”
As the minister with the responsibility for setting the length of the campaign between 21 and 28 days, he said he would be guided by the final decision of the three Coalition leaders.
