Enda Kenny is still in the race to become taoiseach because of unfolding events at the Mahon tribunal, Labour party leader Pat Rabbitte said today.
"He's still in the race, and having regard to developments that are going on in another place, you'd be very foolish to rule him out," Mr Rabbitte told reporters outside Leinster House before a meeting of his party.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte
Mr Rabbitte said he had received no contact from Fianna Fáil about any future coalition government adding that Labour and Fine Gael were "committed in the Alliance for Change and will go into the Dáil on June 14th on that basis".
"As you well know I'm very close to Fianna Fáil and have regular contact with them but not a sinner has asked be anything about government, not a sinner," Mr Rabbitte said.
"The position we fought the election on was an alliance with Fine Gael and you know the basis of that and the purpose of it and there is no government easily in prospect yet and I suspect won't be for some time."
Asked if he thought Taoiseach Bertie Ahern would like to form a coalition with Labour, Mr Rabbitte said: "Maybe he does think that way, divining the thought process of the Taoiseach has always been beyond me.
"If he does he's kept it a secret from met. Labour and Fine Gael are committed in the alliance for change and will go into the Dáil on June 14th on that basis.
"If we don't eject the Government on the 14th there is a blank canvas but to be honest the views I held before the election and the things I said before the election are the things that I believe now and I don't see that changing."
However, he refused to rule out a deal with Fianna Fáil. "It's not for me to rule in or rule out Fianna Fáil in the sense that they will presumably be attempting to put together a government," he added.
"It doesn't involve Labour they've made no contact with Labour. We'll see what happens. There doesn't seem to be any great urgency around the place to jump bridges before we come to them".
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was in Dublin yesterday to meet with party officials and plan for a meeting with Mr Rabbitte later in the week.
Fine Gael and Labour presented a joint proposition to the electorate as an alternative government but between them gained 71 seats, 7 behind Fianna Fáil.
Mr Rabbitte had previously cast doubt on the possibility of forming a government but Mr Kenny has not given up hope.
Mr Ahern has not ruled out asking Labour to join a coalition but has indicated it would be his least preferred option. And it would be difficult for Labour to go into government with a party it committed itself to removing.
The main political parties have ruled out a deal with Sinn Féin but the party's four TDs will have a vote on the formation of the next government.
Speaking this evening outside Leinster House Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said his party would "not be interested in supporting a minority government from the opposition benches".
He said that if his party is to be in government "it won't be for the sake of securing ministerial seats, it will be all about the political platform of such a government."
When asked about other parties ruling out a deal with Sinn Féin prior to the general election Mr Ó Caoláin replied "never is a long day in politics".
However, he also added that his party has not been in contact, nor has it initiated any contact, with other parties at this point in time.
Meanwhile, PD chairman Senator John Minihan said the party would be meeting this evening to consider its options in the wake of the election.
It is expected to be available to Bertie Ahern as a coalition partner but after the loss of six of the party's eight Dáil seats, it cannot support a coalition on it own and will also consider its future as a party after its leader Michael McDowell resigned after losing his seat.
The party's six ousted TDs will attend today's meeting, along with the surviving two deputies and its five senators. Mr Minihan said the party would consider all the options for the formation of government.
The Green Party is maintaining a low profile and is expecting to meet Mr Kenny over the next few days.
While party leader Trevor Sargent said during the election campaign that he wanted a change of government, he refused to rule out entering a coalition with Fianna Fáil.
It is understood that no arrangements have as yet been made to meet with Fianna Fáil.
Meanwhile, this evening the former Fianna Fáil TD, now Independent, Beverley Flynn said she had held a meeting with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and that at this stage negotiations are "ongoing".
Former Fine Gael minister and Independent TD for Tipperary North, Michael Lowry, again signalled his willingness to enter negotiations about supporting a new Fianna Fáil government led by Bertie Ahern, saying it was "the only viable government" likely to last the full term.
However, the controversy over Mr Ahern's finances that threatened to derail his election campaign hangs over the negotiations.
The issue was raised again before the Mahon Tribunal yesterday with counsel for tribunal outlining what is regards as discrepancies in Mr Ahern's account of funds he received in 1994.
