Enda Kenny has signalled that the General Election will take place in January next year, placing it before the 1916 centenary commemorations.

He predicted the next General Election would be "in 40 weeks' time or thereabouts". Forty weeks is just over nine months, so Mr Kenny's time frame would put the election at the end of January.

Speaking at the launch of Fine Gael's by-election campaign in Kilkenny for candidate David Fitzgerald, he said the 2011 remit had been to fix public finances and get the country working. "In 40 weeks' time or thereabouts, people will be asked the question, do you agree that the Government fulfilled its remit?"

Irish Independent