Michael Duffy
IT has been the subject of rumour for days on end, but finally this afternoon, outgoing Taoiseach Brian Cowen made the short trip across Dublin to the Mansion House to dissolve the 30th Dáil, and the date for the General Election has been confirmed for February 25.
Mr Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, made the order, and stations will be open on polling day between the hours of 7am to 10pm.
The latest time for receiving nominations is noon on Wednesday, February 9. Candidates may withdraw their nominations up to noon on Thursday, February 10.
A press release from the department of An Taoiseach also confirmed that the electorate, which is based on the new register of electors published today, currently stands at over 3.1 million. People eligible to vote but not yet registered as electors can apply for entry in the supplement to the register of electors to be published before polling day. The deadline for such applications is Tuesday, February 8.
During closing speeches in the Dáil this afternoon, outgoing Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the election would 'define the economic future of the country' and 'decide whether Ireland moves forward from the recession – or whether we prolong it or indeed succumb to it’.
Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny wished Mr Cowen well on his retirement from the Dáil, but said he strongly disagreed with many of the policies pursued by him and his Government. He added that the Government had been ‘one of the worst in living memory, displaying serious political misjudgment'.
There are currently eleven candidates declared for the General Election in Mayo but speculation still abounds that Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin may yet add other candidates.
