Timing of next general election

A chara, – Further to "Fine Gael left 'stunned' as Kenny commits to spring election" (October 12th), the winner of the November general election is Paddy Power. – Is mise.

LOMAN Ó LOINGSIGH,

Dublin 24

Sir, – The excessive focus on whether or not Enda Kenny will call an election in November or in February of next year is, quite frankly, ridiculous, and completely irrelevant to those outside the Leinster House bubble.

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It’s not as if Enda Kenny would be catching his opponents on the hop. Sinn Féin and Fianna Fail have been preparing for the possibility of an early election since the beginning of this year. And what would be the benefit of an early election to Fine Gael if it wipes out Labour – its most preferred coalition partner – in the process?

Also, the budget will be a minor influence either way . In November, the budget itself won’t even be implemented yet, and in February, the budget will be forgotten.

So why is there so much coverage given to Enda Kenny’s choice of words on the matter, when there is no rational benefit for the Government in an early election? – Yours, etc,

TOMÁS M CREAMER,

Ballinamore, Co Leitrim.

Sir, – Listening to recent radio discussions on possible election dates, I heard Jan O’Sullivan speaking of “time to complete our programnme”, Joan Burton speaking of “we have more work to do”, and the Taoiseach on his prerogative to choose the election date “in the best interests of the country”.

Can we be confident that the remaining time will be used to implement the promised political reforms in the Programme for Government and since then, such as implementing the working report on Seanad reform, a secret ballot for selecting the Ceann Comhairle, reforming the whip system, and creating structures to allow for meaningful parliamentary debate? – Yours, etc,

INGRID MASTERSON,

Dublin 14.