FG falloutFine Gael leader Enda Kenny said an alternative government was still possible, and he would be shortly talking to his counterparts in Labour and the Greens as well as acting PD leader Mary Harney in that regard.
"I'll be talking to Pat Rabbitte and we'll talk to Trevor Sargent and Mary Harney, who has now assumed leadership responsibility for the PDs.
"I accept that Fianna Fáil has 78 seats. I accept that we have gained 20, and I accept that the rainbow alliance, as it was termed before the election, has 77 seats.
"So this is a case, really, of where we have got to reflect on what we're at here. Do you want 15 years of one party in government, or are we prepared to change that," he said on RTÉ Radio One's This Week programme.
Meanwhile, Dublin North Central Independent TD Finian McGrath revealed that he was contacted by Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton, and expected to meet him today. He said he had no contact as yet from the Government side.
Kerry South Independent Jackie Healy-Rae told The Irish Times he was also contacted by Fine Gael.
Dublin Central Independent TD Tony Gregory said he had received a voice message from a senior Fine Gael figure to see if he was interested in having discussions, but had not heard from Fianna Fáil.
In his RTÉ interview, Mr Kenny said: "When you look at the figures now that we are faced with, the people here have given their answer. Almost 60 per cent voted against the Government."
He added: "The figures as they stack up here require a deal of analysis and attention now, and my responsibility as the leader of Fine Gael with a hugely-increased mandate is to go and talk to the groups and leaders of these groups who are still standing, because the figures make for a government from either way."
However, he again ruled out partnership with Sinn Féin.
"I have been very consistent in this; I have said I wasn't dealing with Sinn Féin, end of story. There is a government to be formed without Sinn Féin."
He said the Green Party had a mandate for a change of government. "I think the Greens have said that policy issues are critical for them and that's the way that it should be."
Fine Gael had "very strong views on the the environment, climate change, energy and these things as well".
He was positive that a change in government was still a distinct possibility.
"The figures as they stack up here are the decision of the people. The politicians have now got to deal with that, and I can see distinct possibilities here."
He added: "What I am really interested in here is how best can we explore those possibilities with a view to providing Ireland with a real government that will be stable and that can deal with the issues as we presented them on the run-in to the election."
Mr Kenny said he had not heard any speculation about a change of leader for Fine Gael.
"You will always have speculation in politics. I have already planned in my own mind the constituencies where we are going to win extra seats the next time."
