Speaking on RTÉ Radio, she said her party did very well in an election in which the parties were polarised between two possible candidates for Taoiseach, which did not suit Labour.
She also said her heart sinks at the prospect of another four or five years of Fianna Fáil Government.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte has said it looks like Bertie Ahern will be re-elected Taoiseach in the next Dáil term.
Mr Rabbitte said there was a shift in the last week in the mood of the Irish people, but he was not yet sure why, adding that people 'may have been fearful of changing horses in mid-stream'.
But he stood by his strategy to offer an alternative government with Fine Gael.
He refused to be drawn on his continued leadership of the Labour Party.
Mr Rabbitte was re-elected on the second count in his Dublin South West constituency.
