Irish president Michael D Higgins dissolves parliament beginning general election campaign

Ireland's president has formally dissolved the Dail parliament to mark the start of a general election campaign.

President Michael D Higgins began the start of a three-week long campaign on Friday after Taoiseach Simon Harris previously revealed the date he hoped the country would head to the polls.

Mr Harris confirmed the polling date as 29 November, saying the "time is now right" to ask the Irish people for a new mandate.

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The announcement brings to an end the four-and-a-half-year lifespan of the historic Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, and Green Party coalition government.

After confirming the dissolution, Mr Harris said it had been the honour of his life to serve as taoiseach.

The Fine Gael leader travelled from government buildings in Dublin to the residence of Mr Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain in the city's Phoenix Park on Friday afternoon to request the move.

Mr Harris called for a "safe and respectful campaign for all politicians and all their teams" and urged the Irish people to value their vote and use their voice.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin held the position of taoiseach for the first half of the government's mandate, with Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar taking over in December 2022.

Mr Varadkar resigned from the role earlier this year and was succeeded by party colleague Mr Harris.

The likes of housing, immigration and childcare have all been highlighted by party leaders as key issues in this election.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, speaking after the announcement, said: "There is a clear choice, another Fine Gael or Fianna Fail government or a new government for working people, for families and communities, a government led by Sinn Fein."

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She also listed a number of her party's policies, including to "advance the preparation for Irish unity".

Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but failed to run enough candidates so could not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a chance of forming a government.

As main opposition, it heads into this election on the back of a difficult few weeks, having faced intense criticism over its handling of several controversies related to allegations against party members.

In the last 12 months the party has also seen its ratings dip significantly, dropping from front runner to leave it trailing behind Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in a series of recent polls.

Since the previous election, the coalition government has faced many of the same global issues as governments around the world such as the COVID pandemic and an inflation sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ireland has also experienced a surge in migration numbers in the last two years - in large part due to tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.

This, coupled with pre-existing housing shortages, has placed unprecedented strain on accommodation provision, leading to growing tensions and the issue of immigration rising up the political agenda.

Despite efforts to increase the number of state-built homes, record homelessness figures are still on the rise and house prices, and rental costs, remain stubbornly high as demand consistently outweighs supply in many areas - particularly Dublin.

The government also faces criticism for the housing crisis when it is set paradoxically against booming public finances - with state coffers buoyed each year by billions in tax receipts from multinationals who have set up bases in Ireland.

After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland's civil war of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power.

The Green Party joined the administration as a junior partner.

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