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

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

Mr Harris confirmed the poll date as November 29, saying “the time has come” to ask the Irish people for a new mandate.

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This announcement ends four and a half years of the historic coalition government of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party.

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

The Fine Gael leader traveled from government buildings in Dublin to Mr Higgins’ residence 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 served as taoiseach for the first half of the government’s term, while Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar took over in December 2022.

Mr Varadkar resigned from his role earlier this year and was replaced by his party colleague Mr Harris.

Housing, immigration and child care 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 workers, for families and communities, a Sinn Fein-led government.”

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She also listed a number of her party’s policies, including “advancing preparations for Irish unity”.

Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020, but failed to field enough candidates and therefore was unable to secure enough seats in the Dáil to give it a chance of forming a government.

As the main opposition, he enters these elections after a difficult few weeks, having faced intense criticism over his handling of several controversies linked to allegations against party members.

Over the past 12 months, the party has also seen its ratings fall significantly, falling from favorite to Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in a series of recent polls.

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

Ireland has also seen a sharp rise in migrant numbers over the past two years, largely due to the arrival of tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.

This, coupled with pre-existing housing shortages, has placed unprecedented pressure on housing supply, leading to growing tensions and the issue of immigration becoming a political priority.

Despite efforts to increase the number of homes built by the state, record homelessness figures continue to rise and house prices and rental costs remain stubbornly high, with demand consistently outstripping demand. offers in many areas, particularly Dublin.

The government is also being criticized for the housing crisis as it paradoxically comes up against booming public finances – with state coffers replenished each year by billions in tax revenue from multinationals based in Ireland.

After the 2020 general election produced an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties from opposing sides of the 1920s Irish Civil War, agreed to put aside almost a century of animosity and sharing power.

The Green Party joined the administration as a junior partner.