Simon Harris said he was open minded as to whether Fine Gael and Fianna Fail secure a majority with the support of independent TDs or a smaller party.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with a combined 86 seats, are just short of the 88 required for a majority.

With only two of the Dáils 174 seats left to be decided, Fianna Fáil is the clear winner of Friday’s general election and is set to emerge with the most TDs on 48.

A return of a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael government looks odds on, but uncertainty remains oaround the make up of the other parties.

The Fianna Fáil leader looks set for a return to the role of Taoiseach – a position he held between 2020 and 2022.

Fianna Fáil is on course to be Ireland’s largest party after the general election

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael looked well placed to return to power but Sinn Fein insists it could be part of a new government of the left.