The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has said he wants to lead a stable government for a five-year term.
Speaking on RTÉ's Election 2007, Mr Ahern said he would serve a full term himself but still intended to step down when he was 60.
Mr Ahern would not be drawn on who his preferred partners for government would be, but predicted that Fianna Fáil would take 77 or 78 seats when all counts were completed.
The Taoiseach described the result an exceptional one for Fianna Fail in all the circumstances which he said few parties anywhere in Europe could have achieved.
He also complained about what he said was an increasingly intrusive media climate in this country, insisting there ought to be some 'rules of the game' as he put it for everyone.
Mr Ahern said politics was not really a blood sport or about denigrating people who were trying to do a good job.
