It looks like the country is heading to the polls sooner, rather than later.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will reportedly call a general election for the 7 February. The Sunday Times said Varadkar could ask for a dissolution of the Dáil as early as Monday, following the return of power sharing in Northern Ireland on Saturday and Britain's impending departure from the European Union. According to the report, most senior Fine Gael figures believe a general election will be called before the Dáil reconvenes on Wednesday. It's expected, at the very least, a general election will be called before the Dáil has a chance to debate a no-confidence motion in Health Minister Simon Harris. This motion by the Rural Independents Group cannot be heard until 5 February at the earliest. Independent TD Michael Lowry, who has voted with the government on a number of motions, said in a statement this weekend said he believes Ireland will be going to the polls sooner, rather than later. "I expect the Taoiseach will exercise his prerogative to call an election which will be well under way by 5 February," the statement said. Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin met on Thursday evening to discuss the general election and Dáil numbers, with both parties calling the talks constructive and vowing to meet again this week.