The Fine Gael leader has held a "constructive" meeting with the Labour Party as efforts continue to form the next government.
In a statement, Simon Harris said that he and his party's negotiating team had "a very lengthy, constructive engagement" with Labour members, led by leader Ivana Bacik.
"The meeting focused on areas of policy, including housing, climate, enterprise and health.
"The Labour Party has its own processes to work through now and we respect that," he added.
Earlier, speaking in Dublin, Mr Harris confirmed that he would also hold talks with the Social Democrats later this week.
Asked about the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal in relation to Deputy Michael Lowry, who is the point of contact for the Regional Group of Independents, Mr Harris said it has to be remembered that the public voted for him in large numbers and he has been given a mandate for government formation.
"Absolutely, it's up to people to decide who they do and don't wish to go into government with. But we're not having a conversation individually with any one TD. We're talking to a regional group that has come together," Mr Harris said.
When someone is elected to the Dáil, he added, they have a duty to try and form an administration.
He said that his party is working with Fianna Fáil to try and put together a stable government and this means having talks with a number of groups.
"There's a lot of people outlining why they don't wish to be government, and I think it's important that we concentrate, because what we do need to do here is deliver a stable government for everyone," Mr Harris said.
He added that Mr Lowry had supported many governments over the years and he did not see any comparison between the Tipperary TD and the failed election bid of Gerard Hutch.
As talks continue with Deputy Lowry while fellow Independent Verona Murphy, someone who Fine Gael deselected, is likely to be nominated as ceann comhairle, Mr Harris was asked whether people have the right to feel cynical about politics.
He said: "Absolutely. Deputy Murphy is not a member of the Fine Gael party for very good reason, but Deputy Murphy then went off and got elected to Dáil Éireann with the mandate from people".
He said that reality and how people voted in the General Election have to be respected.
Ms Murphy was deselected by Fine Gael ahead of the 2020 general election.
It came after a by-election campaign in 2019 during which Ms Murphy, who was running for Fine Gael, apologised after claiming that some asylum seekers coming to Ireland have to be "deprogrammed" as they "carry angst" and may have been "infiltrated by ISIS".
In relation to who becomes the next ceann comhairle, Mr Harris said that no one in Fine Gael would be forced to vote in a particular way on this issue.
Mr Harris said it would be discussed at a meeting of the parliamentary party tomorrow evening, adding: "It is an individual vote that every TD has".
However, he said the party would try to form a consensus on the issue.
Focus on govt that lasts five years - Fianna Fáil leader
The Fianna Fáil leader declined to speculate on cabinet posts for independents if a new coalition relies on their support.
However, Micheál Martin suggested that a large number of independents would be needed to ensure a government ran its full term.
Speaking in Brussels, he said: "Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have strong representation in the Dáil and ultimately government structures will have to reflect the strengths of all concerned.
"We will have further talks with the Labour Party this week and with the Social Democrats, but we will also have talks with the independents.
"What I am focused on is putting together a government that can last five years. That will obviously entail compromises and will mean that we have to make sure that we put a solid combination together that can last to five years," Mr Martin said.
"If that is with independents, for example, that would mean a significant number of independents to give that solidity to go five years. I've been a long term believer in the need for governments to go full term.
"We facilitated the confidence and supply agreement from the opposition [benches] during Brexit and when Ireland needed that sort of stability.
"Likewise, the last government I led, along with the Green Party, with Fine Gael, went to full distance, which I think ultimately means better decision-making for the people of Ireland. That's what my objective is on this occasion," he added.
Additional reporting Eleanor Burnhill, Tony Connelly
