Leo Varadkar has definitively ruled out an election before Christmas.
Election fever was rife in Leinster House this week and the Taoiseach has now moved to dampen the rumours.
It is believed he has told his Fine Gael ministerial colleagues this morning that an election this year is a non-runner.
All indications now point to an election sometime in the Spring, with May the latest realistic date for the next national poll.
The Fine Gael ministers’ meeting was held before a full Cabinet meeting with other Government ministers, who aren’t members of the party, such as the Independent Alliance's Finian McGrath.
Mr McGrath spoke out strongly earlier this morning against the prospect of an early general election.
He said that the “wiser, more sensible heads” on Fine Gael ministers’ shoulders were not advising to go to the polls.
And he said that instead it was the “Young Turks” ministers in the party who were gung-ho for an early election.
Mr McGrath is believed to have been referring to Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, and Minister for Health, Simon Harris.
It is understood that neither of these ministers spoke at Cabinet this morning when the Taioseach raised the issue of calling an election.
