The general election will be held on Saturday the 8th of February.
Speaking this afternoon, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said "I have always said that the election should happen at the best time for the country. Now is that time."
He said now that we have a deal on Brexit, "There exists now a window of opportunity to hold a General Election and to have a new Government in place before the next European Council meeting in March"
President Michael D Higgins signed the proclamation for the dissolution of the Dáil shortly after 2pm:
After almost four years in Government it took less than a minute to dissolve the 32nd Dail. It’s officially game on. #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/u7An9Otk0z
— Stephanie Rohan (@StephGrogan3) January 14, 2020
Leo Varadkar wasted little time in getting his own posters up.
They were spotted in his Dublin consituency hours before the Dail was dissolved:
The Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar team putting up posters before the Dáil has been dissolved? #dubw @rtenews @VirginMedia_One @IvanYatesNT @PatKennyNT @RyanTubridyShow pic.twitter.com/dnkq8nvrKF
— Cllr. Paul Donnelly (@PaulDonnellySF) January 14, 2020
The election will be held on the same day Wales play Ireland in the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium.
That's hampered some TD's plans:
