Green Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said he believes there will be a general election in roughly October 2024. 

Speaking on The Anton Savage Show today, the Youth Minister said an election is on the cards for next year. 

“I think we’ll have an election this time next year,” he said. 

“I don’t know what the outcome of that election will be, but I know the Green Party will emerge of a party of delivery.” 

Former Minister and Newstalk presenter Ivan Yates told The Business Post he thinks Sinn Féin will win 70 seats in the next general election. 

Mr O’Gorman said it’s “too early to tell” what Government will be formed come an election. 

“If an election as held today on the basis of the polls, Sinn Féin would emerge as the largest party,” he said. 

“What I would say it on any numbers as they stand right now, no one party - or in one case two parties - could form a Government. 

“There will continue to be a role for the smaller and medium-sized parties like ourselves, Labour, the SocDems. 

“They will have a role to play in a programme for Government.” 

Green Party Conference in Cork, 21/10/2023. Image: Green Party Press

Mr O’Gorman agreed the Green Party have been “up and down in the polls” in recent times – but he said he has a “reasonably good sense” of how people feel. 

“We will see when it comes to the general elections and the parties have to put out their manifestos, people will make their decisions there,” he said. 

“The public move when it comes towards the election and I'm very confident that we have a very strong record to go on. 

“Both in terms of those environmental and climate policies, but also the work we’re doing far beyond that in making childcare more affordable, like the work Catherine [Martin] has done for the arts.” 

'Leave our Leave'

Mr O’Gorman recently announced he would legislate to allow women who become sick while on maternity leave to defer their maternity leave until their treatment ends. 

Inspired by the ‘Leave Our Leave’ campaign, he said this legislation would help “a couple hundred women every year”. 

“When women are diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness during their maternity leave, their maternity leave is basically used up while receiving their treatment,” he said. 

“They miss that really crucial time to bond with their baby. 

“We all understand the importance of maternity leave.” 

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