The general election will be officially called later today – with polling expected in just over three weeks.
The campaign will begin after Enda Kenny travels to Aras an Uachtarain to ask for the Dáil to be dissolved.
After months of shadow-boxing – and more than a few false alarms – the election campaign will officially get underway later today.
At some point this morning Enda Kenny – the longest-serving member of the Dail – will enter the chamber and notify TDs that they're about to be laid off.
After some statements – and potentially one final press conference – it's off to Aras an Úachtaráin.
There the Taoiseach will officially ask President Michael D Higgins to dissolve the Dail, clearing the way for the general election campaign to begin.
We'll also today find out what day polling will take place – after a brief dispute earlier in the week about when voting should be.
It's expected that the poll will actually take place 23 days from today – on Friday, the 26th of February.