A general election has been called for Saturday, the 8th of February.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar asked President Michael D Higgins to approve the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil this afternoon.
It kick starts a three and a half week election campaign.
Leo Varadkar previously said he wanted the election to be held in May.
However the Taoiseach says political events overtook that timeline:
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