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| Ahern sets general election date | Ahern sets general election date |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has confirmed the Irish Republic will hold a general election on 24 May. | Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has confirmed the Irish Republic will hold a general election on 24 May. |
| Mr Ahern had kept his own Fianna Fail and opposition parties guessing, but went to seek the formal dissolution of the Dail from President Mary McAleese. | Mr Ahern had kept his own Fianna Fail and opposition parties guessing, but went to seek the formal dissolution of the Dail from President Mary McAleese. |
| Recent opinion polls have suggested a very tight outcome, with no clear lead for any party or coalition group. | Recent opinion polls have suggested a very tight outcome, with no clear lead for any party or coalition group. |
| The election could be held no later than June, and unofficial campaigning has been in full swing in recent weeks. | The election could be held no later than June, and unofficial campaigning has been in full swing in recent weeks. |
| Mr Ahern visited President McAleese's official residence Aras an Uachtarain at 0800 BST, hours before she was due to leave for a five-day visit to the US. | Mr Ahern visited President McAleese's official residence Aras an Uachtarain at 0800 BST, hours before she was due to leave for a five-day visit to the US. |
| Mary McAleese's office confirmed the dissolution of the 29th Dail"President McAleese has dissolved the 29th Dail (parliament) this morning," her office said in a statement. | Mary McAleese's office confirmed the dissolution of the 29th Dail"President McAleese has dissolved the 29th Dail (parliament) this morning," her office said in a statement. |
| In power since 1997, Mr Ahern is seeking a third term in office. | In power since 1997, Mr Ahern is seeking a third term in office. |
| Opinion polls have suggested a close race between Mr Ahern's Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats coalition partnership and an alternative partnership of Fine Gael and Labour with possible Green participation. | Opinion polls have suggested a close race between Mr Ahern's Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats coalition partnership and an alternative partnership of Fine Gael and Labour with possible Green participation. |
| Sinn Fein is also among the parties hoping to increase its presence in parliament. | |
| The Irish Republic uses the Proportional Representation - Single Transferable Vote system, by which voters in multi-seat constituencies (electing three, four or five deputies each) are asked to rank their candidate preferences on a ballot paper. | |
| If no one party secures enough seats to form a single party government, a coalition between parties is needed. | |
| The Dail is made up of 166 members representing 41 constituencies. |