The date of the general election was formally announced by
Local Government Minister Eamon O Cuiv after Taoiseach Brian

Cowen went to Aras an Uachtarain to ask President Mary

McAleese to officially dissolve the 30th Dáil.The

Irish Government has confirmed the general election will
be held on Friday 25 February.
During his farewell address before the Dáil, Mr Cowen
maintained he always had the good of the people in mind in
every decision he took.
He said: "I do want to simply say that while the past two
and a half years since I was elected Taoiseach have been a
time of great trial and test, I believe we have worked hard
to correct past failures and to secure the future recovery
of our country,".
The Taoiseach, who remains in charge of the country until a
new Government is formed, said the coming election would
define Ireland's economic future and decide whether we
succumbed to the recession or moved forward from it. He
urged people to cast their vote accordingly.
Mr Cowen called for a mature, responsible debate "where we
all show respect for each other and for the democratic process".
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny wished Mr Cowen and his family
well on his retirement from the House.
He said that despite strongly disagreeing with many of the
policies pursued by Mr Cowen and his government, he had no
doubt about his integrity as a person or a politician.
But Mr Kenny said the government had been one of the worst
in living memory, displaying serious political misjudgment.
He had spoken to people all over the country who had lost
their jobs, their homes and who had lost their loved ones to
emigration.
He said Fine Gael offered voters the opportunity in the
election to turn that anger into action.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said every voter now had the
opportunity to decide the future of the country.
"Ireland is a great country and we have a great future," he
said.
He said "we can and we will get through this recession". He
said change was nothing new for most people in Ireland
today, because they had had to change their lives out of
necessity.
We now had to change the country, and do it together, he said.
For the first time in the 90-year history of this State,
people had a choice to elect a government that was led by
neither Fianna Fail nor Fine Gael. Instead, they had a
choice to elect a government led by Labour.
Green Party leader John Gormley also wished Mr Cowen well
for the future. He said he was proud of his party's
achievements in government with Fianna Fail. He was proud of
civil partnership legislation and the reform of financial
regulation.
"These measures can and do make a difference."
He said, however, it was very clear the political system and
the electoral system had not served the people of the
country well. He said it was time for a reduced Dail, with
perhaps 120 TDs and 60 drawn from a list system.
"It's the type of radical reform that is now required as we
enter into this election."
Sinn Féin leader in the House, Caomhghín Ó Caoláin also
wished Mr Cowen and his family well but added his own
criticisms of the performance of the outgoing Government.
Mr Cowen announced the end of his 27-year political career
confirming that he was stepping down as a TD. He
was first elected in 1984, in a byelection following the
death of his father, Bernard Cowen.
Mr Cowen said his proudest moment in office was playing a
part in the Northern Ireland peace process. He said he had
no future plans but would be playing an active part
canvassing for Fianna Fáil in the forthcoming general election.
Mr Cowen's brother Barry said this morning he would now seek
the Fianna Fáil nomination in the Laois-Offaly constituency.
Mr Cowen stepped down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fáil
party last month, following weeks of unprecedented political
turmoil.
A major defeat is anticipated for the ruling party in the
election, as Fianna Fáil currently experiences a record low
in opinion polls.