Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has dismissed speculation that a general election will take place this year or next.

A general election does not need to take place until spring 2025, but there had been some speculation the Taoiseach may call an election in 2024.

Speaking after the final Cabinet meeting before summer recess, Mr Varadkar said there are no plans for an early general election. 

“We’re focusing on the job,” he said. 

“[There are] a lot of things the Government needs to get done in the next couple of months, particularly helping families with the cost of living, supporting business, making our community safer and really driving forward on housing.” 

Local and European elections

Mr Varadkar said the next elections in Ireland will be the local and European elections “in June of next year”. 

“We did very good [in] local and European elections in 2019,” he said. “As a party, we elected five MEPs, which was more than any other party. 

“We won about 25% of local election seats, which is unusual, for a party in Government to gain seats in local elections.

"Obviously we'll be able to consolidate that position and hold on to it."

The Taoiseach said Fine Gael will put the same councillor and MEPs up for election again in June 2024. 

“We certainly feel that they can get re-elected and we're putting everything behind them,” he said. “And the same applies of course to Fianna Fáil and the Greens as well.” 

Polls

Recent polls show continued support for Sinn Féin to lead the next Government as support for the coalition parties remain low. 

Some 41% of people told the Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll they want the next Government to be led by Sinn Féin and not include Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil. 

Fine Gael also dropped to 19% support in the poll, the lowest approval rating the party has received since the newspaper started polling seven years ago.