Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said he will look at the final results in the general election before he decides on his options for the possible formation of a government.
Asked today whether he still held out the prospect of becoming taoiseach, Mr Kenny said: "I think there's an onus and responsibility on every party leader to see what the final results are and look at all of the options and that's what I intend to do."
Speaking on RTÉ radio, the Fine Gael leader said there had been an "absolutely spectacular" peformance by all his party's candidates, to go from a point where it was "decimated" in the last election to a point where it had recovered all of that ground.
Fine Gael appears likely to take 51 seats, just three short of the number it held prior to the 2002 general 'meltdown' in its support.
"It's a spectacular success really for those candidates and all their workers around the country," Mr Kenny said.
Asked whether he still held out the prospect of becoming taoiseach, Mr Kenny said he would have to "look at all the options".
"I think it's only right and proper to wait and see until the final picture becomes clear here before you look at all these options."
Mr Kenny again ruled out any possible negotiations with Sinn Féin.
"I have been very clear and very consistent about that, since long before this election campaign," he said.