A Fine Gael minister has admitted his party will need the support of Fianna Fáil to enter government in any shape or form.

Richard Bruton says it is now clear that the two largest parties will need to co-operate in some way to offer a stable government.

Teams from both parties are to continue meeting with smaller parties and independents in efforts to form a new government.

However, Minister Bruton says ultimately the two largest parties will have to work together in some shape or form.

He said: “I think any government will require some form of arrangement between the big parties in the Dáil, and that remains to be seen.

“There is no point in having a government that is continually looking over its shoulder at when the mat will be pulled from under it, that is the sort of government that some people seem to think would work.

“That wouldn’t offer stability, it wouldn’t offer the opportunity to implement a programme that could be agreed.”