A general election is set to be called today - with polling day on Saturday, February 8th.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been meeting with his Cabinet colleagues to discuss the timing.
Ministers have been told that the election will be held on a Saturday - a break from the usual Friday tradition.
Leo Varadkar will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin later this afternoon to meet with Michael D Higgins to request the Dáil be dissolved.
SATURDAY 8TH IS THE ELECTION DAY!
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) January 14, 2020
Currently, a PA system is being set up outside of Government buildings as the Cabinet meeting continues and we await the formal announcement.
In what's a clear sign there's an election coming - even though it's not allowed until the Dáil is dissolved - Leo Varadkar election posters have been put up in his Dublin West constituency.
The Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar team putting up posters before the Dáil has been dissolved? #dubw @rtenews @VirginMedia_One @IvanYatesNT @PatKennyNT @RyanTubridyShow pic.twitter.com/dnkq8nvrKF
— Paul Donnelly TD (@PaulDonnellySF) January 14, 2020
Videos from outside Leinster House, meanwhile, showed posters belonging to Labour's Kevin Humphreys being removed ahead of the official election announcement.
Labour’s Kevin Humphreys having illegally placed posters removed by the City Council. Wonder will the same happen to Varadkar’s? #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/kKlPXUPpSS
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) January 14, 2020
Despite the wait for the Taoiseach to travel to meet President Higgins, a number of parties have already launched into campaign mode.
Labour has announced Senator Ivana Bacik as the party's Director of Elections, while Pearse Doherty has been appointed to the role for Sinn Féin.
A number of well-known politicians have already confirmed their intention to run.
Fianna Fáil, meanwhile, this afternoon confirmed they will be campaigning with the slogan 'An Ireland for All':
Micheál Martin confirms they’ll be sticking with ‘An Ireland for All’ as the Fianna Fáil election slogan. Says his conversation with the Taoiseach today was “one second”. “He said ‘I’m going to the park’” #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/KLcb3lLap8
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) January 14, 2020
