The Green Party leader has said he wants the General Election to be held on November 29th.

Speaking at the launch of a housing development in West Dublin today, Roderic O’Gorman said he will be meeting with fellow coalition leaders on Monday.

He said now is the time for clarity for the Irish public.

Speaking at the same event, Housing Minister Darragh O Brien said people know the election will be announced in the coming weeks.

November

“I've been out in the doors even just last night and I’m starting to get the sense people are getting a little tired maybe of the ‘will they, won't they,’” said Minister O’Gorman.

“Probably now is the time to give some degree of certainty to the Irish people in terms of the election date.

“I'll be meeting the two coalition leaders on Monday. What I'll be saying to them is that I think we need to give clarity and I'll be saying my preference is for a November election for the 29th of November.”

Christmas

He said the date gives Government time to finalise the legislation it currently has in train, including the Maternity Protection Bill, the Hate Crime Bill and the Finance Bill.

“I think we can get those done over the next three weeks, with a dissolution in early November and my view is, an election on the 29th.

“Then we get it out of the way before Christmas.”

The Green Party currently has 12 TDs and Minister o'Gorman said he expects to return "all of them and more" to the new Dáil.

He said it is important to hold the poll before the holiday season.

"I don't think anyone's going to thank us if we're knocking on their doors in the run-up to Christmas," he said.

"Full-term"

Speaking in Cork meanwhile, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the coalition party leaders would make a decision next week.

“If we get the key legislation done - which is important - the difference between December and February isn’t huge,” he said.

“So, I’ve never got overly excited about that; I always felt February would have been the conclusion.

“It’s always been my view in terms of when a Government has been elected, a Government should go full-term.

“That’s just the general philosophy I have about continuity and stability… short-termism happens when you have elections every two to three years.”

Taoiseach's prerogative

For his part, the Taoiseach Simon Harris again insisted that choosing the date was his decision.

His spokesperson said: "It is the Constitutional prerogative of the Taoiseach to call a general election."

"The Taoiseach has consistently stated he will engage with the coalition leaders before deciding," he said.

"He has also consistently stated he will not do that through the media."

Additional reporting from Barry Whyte and Jessica Woodlock.