Politics watch: Coalition leaders to discuss general election date
James Cox
Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.
Government leaders to discuss general election date
The general election is looming larger than ever with the coalition leaders set to discuss a date in a meeting on Monday evening.
According to sources, the three possible dates are Friday, November 22nd, Friday, November 29th, or an outside chance of Friday, December 6th.
Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman became the first coalition leader to suggest a date during the week when he said he favoured Friday, November 29th.
Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin had previously claimed the poll would be next year, in either February or March, but they have both acknowledged an election this year is more likely.
On Sunday, Mr Harris went a step further and said he expects to call a general election in 2024.
The Taoiseach said he wanted to see some key pieces of outstanding legislation passed before he sought the dissolution of the Dáil, and also wanted his Government to set in place new house-building targets for 2025.
But he added: “It is my expectation now that there will be a general election in 2024.
“It is my prerogative obviously under the constitution to seek that dissolution, I’ve been very clear though that I am going to do it in a respectful manner. I’ve no wish to surprise my coalition colleagues.
“The Government works well and I want it to come to an amicable end and I am really looking forward to seeking a mandate from the people of this country and asking them to allow me to continue as their Taoiseach.”
Consistently strong performances for Fine Gael in opinion polls, along with a high popularity rating for Mr Harris, have only increased speculation in recent weeks.
A new Sunday Times/Opinions poll puts Sinn Féin on 16 per cent, a fall of two points since September and its lowest figure in any poll of general election voting intentions since December 2019.
The drop in popularity for Mary Lou McDonald's party this year has opened up a path to re-election for the current Government.
Sinn Féin is struggling with internal scandals, more on that next...
Sinn Féin scandals
Mary Lou McDonald and Brian Stanley have been embroiled in an exchange of claims and counter claims after he quit the party last weekend amid a controversy relating to a complaint made against him.
It followed in September as Sean Mag Uidhir and Caolan McGinley resigned as Sinn Féin press officers, days after it emerged that they had given references for former colleague, Michael McMonagle, for a job at a charity in 2022.
The party said it was not aware of the references until the week before and said they were provided without clearance from the party. Sinn Féin described the press officers’ actions as “unacceptable and wrong”.
Last month, McMonagle, 42, from Limewood Street, Derry, admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
It was then revealed on Saturday, October 5th, that a senior Sinn Féin official was told about the references by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in August 2023, despite indicating that September 25th was the first it knew about them.
It then emerged that former senator Niall Ó Donnghaile quit Sinn Féin last year after the party received complaints that he had sent inappropriate texts to a teenage party member.
Sinn Féin has said it referred the matter to the PSNI and social services immediately last September, but no criminal investigation was pursued after police deemed that there had been no illegality.
It is believed that the messages, while personal in nature, were not sexually explicit.
Mr Ó Donnghaile stepped down from the Seanad three months after Sinn Féin had referred the issue to the authorities.
When he left last December, his departure was attributed to health issues. Ms McDonald told the Dáil last week that the true reasons were not made public because of concerns about the mental wellbeing of the former Belfast lord mayor.
The party president also told the Oireachtas that the teenager was 17 at the time of the incident, it has since emerged he was 16 at the time.
Abroad
In the UK, British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is preparing for his first budget on October 30th.
There are rumours of unrest in his party about heavy cuts which are expected.
In the US, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are focusing on the swing states as campaigning enters the final stretch ahead of the November 5th presidential election.
Some polls show a very slight lead for Ms Harris, but the pair are essentially neck and neck.