Statement of An Tánaiste and Leader of Fianna Fáil Micheál Martin on Calling of the General Election

During this government we worked every day on behalf of all of the people of Ireland. We made sure that there was a stable and hard-working government in place, helping our country to get through a terrible pandemic and huge international challenges.

There are half a million more people in work and 125,000 more homes today than there were when we entered government.

But this is an election about Ireland's future. It's about how we can protect our many strengths and overcome deep challenges.

Our campaign will put policy before politics. Substance before soundbite.

We will offer new policies on tackling high prices, on helping people to buy or rent a home, on expanding health services, supporting education, tackling crime, and on many other areas.

And we will lay out plans for leading Ireland through any new international turmoil which may arise.

It will be a short three-week campaign, but the issues at stake could not be more serious.

We'll campaign in every constituency and every community.

Fianna Fáil will be focused on our positive message of policies which can both protect progress and move Ireland forward for the benefit of all of its people.

-ENDS-