Taoiseach Brian Cowen today announced that he will dissolve the Dáil on Tuesday and name a date for the General Election.

Voters are expected to go to the polls on Friday, February 25, with Mr Cowen to decide this weekend whether he will retire from politics.

The Taoiseach plans to consult family and advisers before announcing his future.

The election is widely expected to deliver a damaging defeat to Fianna Fáil, as it languishes at a record low in opinion polls.

Mr Cowen made the announcement In a morning interview on Raidio na Gaeltachta.

The Tuesday sitting of the Dáil had been expected after normal parliamentary business was cleared this week to allow the minority Government to process Budget 2011.

The fast-tracked Finance Bill should be passed into law after a late sitting of the Seanad (upper house) on Saturday.

The Taoiseach’s final Dáil appearance will also give him the opportunity to make a valedictory speech.

A Government spokeswoman confirmed the interview.

“The Taoiseach indicated on an interview with Raidio na Gaeltachta Adhmhaidin that his intentions are to go into the Dáil at 2.30pm on Tuesday and dissolve it.”

The Taoiseach will be required to ask President Mary McAleese to officially end the Dáil term.

The Taoiseach's announcement was also separately recorded for the Government website, merrionstreet.ie.

Mr Cowen said he would name the election date and make a departing speech to the house.

“I have indicated already that that is the appropriate forum for me to address the Dáil, that I will seek the dissolution of the house,” he said.

Mr Cowen added: “It will give me the opportunity to say some things before we do that.

“It’s really a question of using the Dáil as the appropriate forum for that announcement.”