Enda Kenny has said the offer for Fianna Fáil and Independent TDs to enter into a Partnership Government with Fine Gael, is still on the table

Last night, the caretaker Taoiseach once again appealed to Micheal Martin to take part in negotiations to form a partnership government.

Enda Kenny also called for an end to Civil War politics.

On Thursday, the leaders of the two biggest parties held a brief meeting, before the Fianna Fail parliamentary party resolutely rejected Fine Gael's proposition.

But speaking to Ocean FM last night, Mr Kenny reiterated his belief that a Partnership Government presents the most stable option: “It allows to have the Government bring in five budgets and to deal with the many challenges that we face.

“So because I got an invitation from six of the 15 Independents, with whom I have had 50 hours discussions, I replied to that to say that the offer that I make is still open to both Independents and Fianna Fáil and represents the very best option now for our country and our people.”

Meanwhile the Independent Alliance has extended an invitation to both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to discuss the reality of a minority government.

The alliance says the Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has accepted their invitation.

Independent Alliance TD Sean Canney, has said it is essential that Enda Kenny and Mr Martin get in a room together to talk about how a minority government could work: “It’s not fair to the Irish people who have elected 157 Irish TDs to run the country.

“It is not fair to have a 40 minute conversation and say that is it.

“We need to explore every avenue to ensure that we have a Government and to ensure that the Government is stable.

“And we have issues in the country that we need to deal with and we need to get on with it.”