Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

That is the projection of the conservative Economic and Social Research Institute. That is a damning indictment of this Government. We have a lame duck Taoiseach with a lame duck Government in terms of the Cabinet on which he will be depending in the remaining weeks of this Government. It is good that the announcement in regard to the election has now been made. I welcome that we now have a date for it. All I can say in its favour is that in selecting the date of 11 March the Taoiseach has at least allowed many young people the prospect and opportunity of directly participating in the election as that date falls on a Friday.

I remind the Taoiseach that constitutionally he would have been able to go to the park today. Rather than wait until 11 March he could have brought the election forward to 11 February. Three weeks from tomorrow was within the scope of what is statutorily required to give notice and allow the election to proceed. That was the announcement the Taoiseach should have made today.

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