The Irish general election of 2011 will take place on Friday, 25 February. 165 TDs will be elected to Dáil Éireann. The electorate now has the task of choosing the members of the 31st Dáil, who will then meet on 9 March 2011 to nominate a Taoiseach and ratify the ministers of the Government of the 31st Dáil.

At best Fianna Fáil can only hope to minimise its losses following historically low poll ratings in the wake of the current Irish financial crisis. Fine Gael are hoping to gain a dominant position in Irish politics and replace Fianna Fáil for the first time since 1927 as the largest party in Dáil Éireann. However, a poll in this morning's Irish Independent indicates a drop in support for Fine Gael.

The Labour Party is widely expected to become the second largest party and to enter into coalition government with Fine Gael however they are hoping that they will become the lead party. Early this morning Labour launched its campaign which is focused on jobs, reform and fairness. Eamon Gilmore, the party leader, introduced the party's 68 candidates. Mr Gilmore claimed that only Labour could lead the change the country needed with its vision of one Ireland. He expressed his belief that for the first time in 90 years the election was a genuinely three-way contest.