'Let the dog see the rabbit' - Taoiseach faces calls in the Dáil to set election date

Taoiseach Simon Harris has been urged in the Dáil to call the general election as soon as possible and to 'let the dog see the rabbit'.

The calls were made by Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath this Tuesday lunchtime ahead of Leader's Questions.

"I don't know what's going on with this Taoiseach but he has the media driven demented, he has the people driven demented, he has us driven demented - I think he is becoming demented himself," he said.

The date of the general election has been the subject of almost daily speculation in recent weeks and Deputy McGrath told the Dáil he believes now is the time "to stop all the tricks and the snakes and ladders".

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Addressing the Taoiseach, he said: "Have a bit of cop on and a bit of respect for the people as well as this House - call the election and let the dog see the rabbit. Let us out there rather than playing games up and down and  back and forward running over to Joe Biden and back - are you afraid that you won't be Taoiseach again - that you won't be over in March?"

The independent says the current uncertainty over the date of the election is a "a bit of a charade" and should not be allowed to continue.

"You are trying to drive the whole country demented, especially the electorate but they can see what's gong on and they will get you in good time," he stated.