May 2020 is the "right moment" for a General Election, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
It is understood he already wrote to Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin discussing an election date in May or June.
Speaking at the Fine Gael party think-in today, Mr Varadkar said: "This will be our last special Parliamentary Party meeting of the 32nd Dáil.
"I have always said that I believed that the next General Election should take place in the summer of 2020.
"I think May 2020 is the right moment. It will allow to us to complete a full parliamentary session in the new year, discharge our Government duties around St Patrick’s Day and the March European Council and have a new Government in place well in advance of the next summer recess.
"We should also, by then, have secured a Brexit Deal or have guided the country through the worst of No Deal. Though timelines, when it comes to Brexit, are unpredictable.
"Above all, it will allow us to spend the next few months concentrating on the things that are important - the Budget, Brexit, Balanced Regional Development, a Better Deal for Families. And also other issues like housing delivery and Climate Action and health reform.
"I believe we can win that election."
