Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has said the party has gone from strength to strength since the General Election and has doubled its support in the polls.
Speaking on The Week in Politics programme, Ms Cairns said that she is positive about the party's candidates running in the upcoming by-elections and she said they have "hit the ground running".
She said that by-elections are a "different ball game" to general elections and are difficult to predict.
Two by-elections will take place in Galway West and Dublin Central during the month of May.
Deputy Cairns said that the parties on the left have been working together for a long time on things like the Occupied Territories Bill and disability rights.
However, she said they have different views and if they were completely aligned they would not be separate parties.
Ms Cairns said that their focus is that the next government be a socially democratic government and to get as many candidates elected as possible.
She reiterated that she would talk to all parties about forming a government but she said they have more in common with parties on the left.
On the issue of housing, she said that the Government is continuing with the same slow approach which has not worked in the past.
Deputy Cairns said money in Irish deposit accounts could be used to build housing and she said this approach has worked in other countries like France for decades. She said the change in approach must be radical.
On social media, she said that the landscape is constantly changing and she said that the Government has not acted strongly enough on the issue.
She said "toxic algorithms" that are feeding people hate by default need to be banned. She said that she was not confident that a social media age ban for under 16s would work.
Ms Cairns added that the Government needs to focus on making the internet safer for everyone.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, Ms Cairns said the Social Democrats are ready to work with all communities in the North with regard to a united Ireland.
"The change in demographics in the North show that the possibility of a united Ireland is fast approaching," she added, "and preparation for this must be done in a considered and thoughtful way."
"We need a Citizens' Assembly and voices North and South [included]," she added.
