Fianna Fáil is unlikely to facilitate any Fine Gael-led minority government that includes the Labour Party as a full member, party sources have said.

Fine Gael has made approaches to Labour about joining a minority government led by Enda Kenny, but a significant element of Tánaiste Joan Burton's party is understood to be against such a move.

Senior figures in Labour, however, are open to rejoining coalition but the view is not shared by others such as Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin.

Fianna Fáil sources have said they are unlikely to facilitate a government led by Fine Gael and including Labour, even if it includes others such as the Green Party and Independents. It is understood the return of Fine Gael and Labour would be viewed as a return of the outgoing Government. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said his party campaigned for a change of government.

Some Independent TDs have also said they would not support a government that included the Labour Party for the same reason.

At a meeting last night, the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party supported the decision by Mr Martin to contact Independent TDs about supporting him in the vote for taoiseach.

Code of conduct

A number of new TDs complained about leaks to the media from parliamentary party meetings. They called for a code of conduct to avoid information being given to the media until the meeting was concluded. A number of party members criticised Mr Martin’s decision to contact the Independent TDs on Wednesday night. Fianna Fáil told Independents that yesterday’s vote represented the last chance to vote for Mr Martin.

Mr Martin insisted it was not an ultimatum but a necessary move. He told the meeting that Fine Gael had insisted to Fianna Fáil they had the support of six TDs. Mr Martin was confident he had the same level of support and insisted he made the move to force the hand of the Independents