Election in “a matter of weeks”

Ireland will be going to the polls in a matter of weeks Minister Heather Humphreys told The Anglo-Celt as speculation on the date of the general election ramps up.

Minister Humphreys made the statement as she hosted a workshop for businesses about the new €28 million economic stimulus package for the Border region today (Monday) in the Kilmore Hotel Cavan.

“The election will be called, I imagine, this week,” the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation said. “It will be up to the Taoiseach to decide the date. I really don't mind at this stage. I hope the people of Cavan and Monaghan will give me the opportunity to serve them to the best of my ability. After that, we will see what happens.”

When pressed if she thought the it would be sooner or later Minister Humphreys said: “I honestly think it will be a matter of weeks.”

The election date has been the subject of much discussion since Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he made a decision on a General Election date on RTÉ's 'This Week' programme. The Fine Gael leader said he is not announcing the date yet as a matter of “protocol”.

Taoiseach Varadkar said he would like to speak to the cabinet and the leader of the opposition on the matter before the Dáil reconvenes on Wednesday.

The confidence motion in the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, due on February 5, is one of the factors precipitating the move to dissolve the government and go to the polls.