The Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, has said he will keep exploring the possibility of forming an alternative government.
Speaking in Castlebar he said he would make contact with the leaders of the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats and Independent TDs, to see if they would be prepared to back a Fine Gael-led coalition government.
He said he believed he had a responsibility to continue to explore this possibility because of the outcome of the election, which had seen Fine Gael gain 20 seats, its greatest number ever.
Mr Kenny said he has already had talks with the Labour leader Pat Rabbitte.
