The Finance Minister Paschal Donohue has appeared to rule out a general election this year.

He said he is already working on Budget 2020 for October, and is confident it will pass.

He was speaking at a Fine Gael national conference in Wexford - where 1,000 party members have gathered for the two-day event.

Minister Donohue is confident he will get the Budget through by the end of the year.

"The good news is I'm already working on Budget 2020, because I have to bring a stability programme update to Government over the next few weeks, which will be laying out how we think the economy's going to perform next year.

"I believe I'll be presenting Budget 2020 to the House in October, and I think there's every chance we'll get it passed".

Finance Minister Paschal Donohue rules out General Election and is confident he will present Budget 2020 to the Dáil in October pic.twitter.com/hzMZkJ95nS

— Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) March 23, 2019

DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson will address the gathering later on North-South relations after Brexit.

Brexit and Ireland's future in Europe opened the conference in Clayton Whites Hotel on Friday night, with Tánaiste Simon Coveney answering questions on Ireland's preparedness for the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Mr Coveney said he hoped to have some quiet time with Mr Donaldson to discuss the party's stance on Brexit - but said he knows the DUP does not respond well to arm-twisting.

Tániste Simon Coveney is flanked by MEP candidates at the Fine Gael national conference in Wexford | Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Other topics up for discussion by Fine Gael include social protection, education, childcare, tax reform, housing and women in politics.

All eyes will be on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's televised address tonight, where he will likely make an election pitch and promises to the party faithful and voters.

Reporting by Shane Beatty