Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today ruled out the possibility of holding the general election on a Friday.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Speaking to journalists this afternoon Mr Ahern said that although the last election five years ago was held on a Friday "it did not work".
Mr Ahern said: "I went with the argument that it would be a great help everywhere, it wasn't. Look at the figures, the figures are there.
"The polls in the city were very low after 6 o'clock. I know it was a very bad day, and that is factored in."
The Taoiseach dismissed arguments that people in Dublin would go back to the country to vote, saying that with the clean-up of the electoral register those people are now registered in Dublin.
Mr Ahern also refused to be drawn on whether the election would be held in May or June, saying it would be held in summer 2007.
Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd said the Taosieach's comments about holding the election on a Friday were "utter rubbish".
Mr O'Dowd said: "Every voter must be given the maximum opportunity to vote and Friday polling is one way to do this as is opening the polls earlier and closing them later."
"Holding the election on a Thursday will effectively disenfranchise thousands and Fianna Fáil must answer the question of why they think it is beneficial to disqualify so many from the vote," he added.