Fine Gael must have 'parity of esteem' if they are to join Government, the outgoing Taoiseach has said.

Over the past few days, the party has said it is open to forming a coalition with Fianna Fáil, who won the most seats in the General Election.

Fine Gael have 38 TDs in the next Government, Sinn Féin have 39 and Fianna Fáil have 48.

No party, however, has enough seats to form a majority Government.

As of now, the most likely path to power is a coalition of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and independents.

Parity of Esteem

Fine Gael are hoping to return to the office of the Taoiseach at some point over the next Government, with the party calling for a "parity of esteem" in the 34th Dáil.

While Fine Gael may be pushing for a split on the role of Taoiseach, it is understood that Fianna Fáil will seek to hold the position of Taoiseach for longer.

Party leader Simon Harris is currently in Edinburgh with Fianna Fáil's Micheál Martin for a meeting of the British-Irish Council.

The outgoing Taoiseach and Tánaiste will have informal discussions about forming the next Government.

Fine Gael Leader Simon Harris, leads out his smallest of the main political parties to the back of Leinster House.
Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Today, Mr Harris said any Government that is formed must deliver five budgets and have an "agreed policy platform".

"I think there is a little bit of an effort to jump to the end of the process - who's getting what ministry, rotating this, rotating that," he said.

"That's not what this is about - this is about getting this right."

Mr Harris also said the next Government must have "mutual respect" for elected TDs.

"It’s about not taking anyone’s mandate for granted," he said.

"It’s about recognising that there are other parties in the Dáil and other independents in the Dáil that if they wish to go into Government, they need to be engaged with respectfully."

The outgoing Taoiseach claims it will be "very difficult" to form the next Government without the participation of Fine Gael.

Social Democrats and Labour

Elsewhere, the Social Democrats and Labour met this morning to discuss Government formation.

The Social Democrats, however, rejected Labour's proposal to enter Government formation talks on a centre-left platform.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik says the Social Democrats told her party they intend to engage "on a stand-alone basis with all parties."

Featured image: Micheál Martin and Simon Harris, Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie