![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/election.png\")
With a signature and a wave from the Taoiseach, the 32nd D\u00e1il was officially dissolved ending months of speculation over when the next General Election will be held.<\/p>\nWith a signature and a wave from the Taoiseach, the 32nd D\u00e1il was officially dissolved ending months of speculation over when the next General Election will be held.<\/p>\n
Shortly before 2pm (9am EST) on Tuesday, Leo Varadkar stood next to President Michael D Higgins at the \u00c1ras an Uachtar\u00e1in after the Proclamation of Dissolution was signed.<\/p>\n
It marked the beginning of a 24-day campaign.<\/p>\n
The public will go to the polls on February 8 \u2013 a Saturday which according to the Taoiseach will allow parents and those who live away from their constituencies the chance to vote.<\/p>\n
While Mr Varadkar previously said he would have preferred a May general election, the Fine Gael leader knew time was up as the numbers in the D\u00e1il were stacked against him.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar previously said he hoped to feel \u201cthe love of the people\u201d when the public go to the polls days ahead of Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
However, he may feel the loss of love from sports fans as polling day clashes with major Gaelic football and rugby matches.<\/p>\n
The battles lines were quickly drawn with Fine Gael wasting no time in kick-starting their \u201cA Future To Look Forward To\u201d crusade.<\/p>\n
One of the first indications of the day that a General Election announcement was imminent was the appearance of Mr Varadkar\u2019s posters in his constituency around Phoenix Park.<\/p>\n
There was also the confirmation that the Cabinet meeting was brought forward by 90 minutes to allow for what turned out to be a busy day for the Taoiseach and other parties.<\/p>\n
As the Cabinet meeting drew to a close, the reverberating pings of mobile phones revealed the date the public will cast their votes.<\/p>\n
Government staff quickly assembled speakers and a podium in the courtyard of Government Buildings ahead of Mr Varadkar\u2019s statement to the media.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said: \u201cI have always said the election should happen at the best time for the country \u2013 now is that time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outlining his rationale, he said a deal on Brexit had been achieved and the UK would exit the EU in an \u201corderly\u201d fashion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be no hard border, citizens\u2019 rights have been protected and the Common Travel Area will remain in place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar stressed that Brexit \u201cis not done yet\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, it\u2019s only half-time,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next step is to negotiate a free trade agreement between the EU, including Ireland, and the United Kingdom, that protects our jobs, our businesses, our rural communities and our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following a short statement, he was whisked away to the \u00c1ras where he was joined by Mr Higgins in the State Drawing Room before official proceedings took place in the State Reception Room.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar and Mr Higgins remained silent throughout, exchanging smiles and handshakes in front of the media before returning to the State Drawing Room.<\/p>\n
As Mr Varadkar left the \u00c1ras, he turned back to thank Mr Higgins and Sabina.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Fianna F\u00e1il leader Miche\u00e1l Martin did not hesitate to highlight the failings of the Fine Gael government, citing housing and health as the biggest challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us and the Irish people in particular this is a vital election in terms of their future because we are facing enormous challenges,\u201d he said outside the parliament in Leinster House.<\/p>\n
The Opposition leader opened his party’s election battle by attacking Fine Gael’s newly released slogan for the campaign.<\/p>\n
Fine Gael’s slogan, which has been launched in a video with Mr Varadkar today, says the party is campaigning and offering voters \u201ca future to look forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Mr Martin took issue with the slogan and said the Fine Gael-led government had in fact \u201ccreated an uncertain\u201d future for people in Ireland, particularly when it came to housing and healthcare.<\/p>\n
He said he was not so certain that people would look forward to housing problems, health issues, as well as childcare and insurance costs and education delays.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party have \u201clistened and learned\u201d from their local election losses and is optimistic they can gain more seats in the D\u00e1il.<\/p>\n
Ms McDonald said the party had learned from their previous mistakes and that she was looking forward to her first general election as party leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis campaign will be very different, we\u2019ve listened, we\u2019ve learned, we\u2019ve been very honest with each other,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Labour has not ruled out working with Sinn F\u00e9in in government, calling on left-leaning parties to join forces in voting pacts as the general election campaign gets underway.<\/p>\n
Party leader Brendan Howlin also said he hopes to deliver a \u201ccritical mass\u201d of TDs to the next D\u00e1il.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the party\u2019s first election press conference in Dublin on Tuesday, he said the party is running 31 candidates and hopes to return \u201ca significant cohort\u201d of Labour TDs.<\/p>\n
Mr Howlin said the party will seek to tackle wasteful government spending if it is elected.<\/p>\n