Health Minister Stephen Donnelly surprised Fianna Fáil activists by announcing, 'I expect the election to be announced next week and polling day to be in early November.' His declaration highlighted the political urgency surrounding upcoming elections, noting the need for active canvassing among party members.
Donnelly emphasized the need for preparedness among party members, stating, 'I need everyone to come out and canvass.' This urgency reflects the competitive nature of the upcoming elections, where Fine Gael is targeting his seat while the coalition leaders are deliberating on the election timeline.
Mr Donnelly was the first cabinet minister to predict the timeline for the next election, which adds significant weight to his statements given the context of ongoing discussions amongst coalition leaders regarding the timing related to legislation such as the Finance Bill.
Donnelly also noted positive developments in healthcare, claiming, 'waiting times are down nearly 50pc and falling' for outpatient appointments, while boasting that Ireland had one of the 'lowest fatality rates' during Covid-19 compared to England.
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