It elected 174 Teachtaí Dála (TDs) across 43 constituencies of between 3 and 5 seats to Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's legislature.

The main issues in the campaign were the cost of living, housing affordability and availability, immigration and asylum management, and economic stability amid external trade uncertainties, reflecting voter concerns despite the country's strong overall financial health.

[26] To stand for election to Dáil Éireann, candidates must be Irish citizens aged at least 21, and if unaffiliated with a registered political party, they must secure either 30 assentors from the constituency or lodge a €500 deposit.

[39] Thirty outgoing members of the 33rd Dáil did not seek re-election: The 2024 general election featured 686 candidates and 20 registered political parties.

[72] In the first week of the campaign, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, speaking at an event to launch the campaign of Peter Burke, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and an outgoing Fine Gael TD for Longford–Westmeath, criticised the number of former teachers in the Dáil and advocated for more private-sector professionals to address infrastructure challenges.

[73] O'Leary's remarks were widely condemned by teaching unions and representatives of other parties as disrespectful to teachers and public servants.

[77] Following the first week of canvassing, the BBC suggested the primary issues in the campaign were the housing crisis, strained healthcare services, the rising cost of living, concerns over public spending and immigration reform.

It has suggested voters are concerned about rising living costs, high rents, and healthcare resources, while the topic of immigration has become polarising, with calls for tougher controls.

[80][81][82] On 22 November, during the final weekend of the campaign, Simon Harris walked away from an emotional exchange with Charlotte Fallon, a carer from St Joseph's Foundation, in Kanturk, County Cork.

The incident, captured on video by RTÉ News, drew criticism from activists and opposition politicians who condemned Harris for his dismissive response.

Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee defended Harris, citing the long day of campaigning.

Sutcliffe faced criticism from party leadership, who deemed his actions and public statements inconsistent with their commitment to law and order.

Mary Lou McDonald called the interaction "chilling" (recalling the same remark made by Simon Harris earlier in the campaign towards Sinn Féin) while Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats stated "The Taoiseach cannot have his cake and eat it.

[104] Three interviews were conducted on Virgin Media ONE with Collete Fitzpatrick with the leaders of the largest three parties: Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.

[105] Matt Copper's Last Word on Today FM and Sky News offered to host a three-way debate between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.

[106][107] The Irish Times stated the key issues discussed in the 18 November debate were housing, cost-of-living pressures, and healthcare, alongside broader questions of governance and political accountability.

Housing dominated as the central topic, with Sinn Féin criticising government schemes like Help to Buy and First Homes, while Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil defended their approach.

During the debate, Fine Gael was criticised by Sinn Féin for running John McGahon as a candidate, who had been found liable for assault in the High Court.

Taoiseach Simon Harris stood by McGahon, citing that he had been found not guilty in a trial in the Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court.

Harris retorted that Sinn Féin "press officer is in prison tonight"; a reference to the recent conviction in Northern Ireland of Michael McMonagle for child sex offences.

Independent Ireland's Michael Collins said his party would talk to anyone who would priorise their agenda while People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett advocated for a left-leaning government, rejecting any support for Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.

Labour's Ivana Bacik stressed the importance of a centre-left platform and constructive change, while Cian O'Callaghan of the Social Democrats made clear that any government must address housing issues.

[129] Sinn Féin, which increased its number of seats from 37 to 39, has begun negotiating with the same two parties to form a left-wing minority government.

In a statement released after the election, Labour stated that it would only enter government with a "progressive, left-of-centre bloc with like-minded parties", as well as outlining their basic platform for negotiation.

[137] Controversy arose in the following days when it was announced that some of those independents who were supporting the new government's formation but would not be receiving ministries were seeking to form a Dáil technical group to retain opposition speaking time.

This was condemned by opposition parties, with Sinn Féin threatening legal action if Verona Murphy, the Ceann Comhairle—who prior to her election to that office had been a member of that same technical group—permitted this to happen.