A Fine Gael minister has admitted his party will need the support of Fianna Fáil to enter government in any shape or form.

Richard Bruton says it's now clear that the two largest parties will need to co-operate in some way to offer a stable government.

Teams from both parties are to continue meeting with smaller parties and independents in efforts to form a new government.

But Minister Bruton says ultimately the two largest parties will have to work together in some shape or form.

He believes that any government which has to keep looking looking over its shoulder will not be able to deliver stability: