Independent TD Shane Ross said he regretted that his description of Enda Kenny as “a political corpse” had caused offence but said he had been making a serious point.

Speaking about the cycle of meetings taking place between the political parties in a bid to form the next government Mr Kenny said members of the Independent Alliance had met Mr Kenny following the general election, he said.

“We went into a room with Enda Kenny who had just come from a battering defeat in the general election.

“He was alone. I think I asked a legitimate question, are we dealing with someone in authority? The next time we met him he was flanked by Ministers who supported him.”

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Ross said the Independent Alliance had since held a series of meetings with both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. "We were asked to elaborate on our Charter for Change, to flesh it out."

More meetings will be held next week.

The support of the Independent Alliance TDs for a minority government had not been specifically requested, but it was implied by the nature of the talks, he said.

“Cabinet seats were never mentioned. It has been pure policy, pure principles, pure priorities. It has been about what we want and what they are prepared to concede.

“We want to provide a stable government which incorporates the radical principles of our charter,” he said.

He also dismissed suggestions that the Independent Alliance was “being played” by the two larger parties.

Fine Gael is believed to be making progress in efforts to convince Independents and small parties to back a minority government on the basis of an agreed programme and cabinet seats.