The election will take place on 26 February and the Taoiseach confirmed the date on a video released on his Twitter account.
Environment Minister Alan Kelly subsequently signed the polling order as well as set the polling times.
There was speculation that Alan Kelly had been pushing to have polling on a Friday while Enda Kenny wished to have the election on a Thursday.
However speaking on Tipp Today the Minister told Fran Curry that Friday is a more suitable day.
There was some criticism in the way that the Taoiseach announced to the Dáil that he was going to the country – making only a short speech before winging his way to Aras an Uachtaráin.
Independent TD Mattie McGrath said there should have been tributes to TDS who were leaving politics after years of service.
