Former minister and Galway West TD Frank Fahey has said he believes that the General Election will not be held before April or May of next year.
Speaking on the Adhmhaidín programme on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta this morning, Mr Fahey said that this would suit both parties in Government.
Earlier, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said it is Taoiseach Brian Cowen's prerogative to call a General Election, and suggested that the general public is not as enthused about the subject as the Opposition deputies.
Ms Coughlan was responding to Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore, who asked the Tánaiste to lay out to the House the proposed date for the Finance Bill.
He asked how long the bill would be in the House and when the election would be called.
Mr Gilmore said it was important for stability.
Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called for clarification on what legislation would be brought before the House before the plug was pulled.
Ms Coughlan said the Finance Bill was being worked on by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan and that she was not in a position to say when it would be published.
Fine Gael's James Reilly called for the House to sit next week and to come back early in the New Year to clear Budget-related legislation.
The Dáil is due to rise today until 12 January. Dr Reilly said the rest of the country would be working next week.
