The prospect of a general election is being played down by a Fine Gael cabinet minister.

The party has had disappointing results in the local elections - while the Green Party has seen a surge in support.

Business Minister Heather Humphreys told Newstalk Breakfast that Brexit is the focus.

But she said the people have spoken on the issue of climate change.

"The vote is a clear message that the public want us to do more on climate action, and the new all of Government plan will set out a series of steps towards meeting our climate obligations.

"[Environment] Minister Bruton has been working on that for a number of months now - and I met with him myself regarding how we can help businesses transition to a low-carbon economy".

"There's a number of different things happening across the plan and it will be announced in a number of weeks.

"It will require big decisions, and that won't be universally popular, and major changes to lifestyle and we have to recognise that.

"We also need to learn from the lessons of France and other countries - and we need to bring the whole country with us on climate change, not just sections of it".

On the prospect of a general election, Minister Humphreys said: "As far as I'm concerned this Government is not focusing on a general election.

"It's focusing on specifically getting Ireland through the next stage of the Brexit negotiations - and as we know, things are particularly sensitive at the moment.

"As more time passes, a no-deal Brexit becomes more and more likely".

Asked about any future prospect of a Fine Gael-Green Party coalition, Minister Humphrey said: "We have an arrangement at the minute, and naturally if there's another election people have to look at the results of that.

"Of course we will talk to everybody, especially the Greens, in terms of a future whatever - partnership or coalition, or whatever comes.

"That's something that's always discussed whenever an election is held.

"But as far as I'm concerned, the focus at the minute is Brexit and we need to remain focused on that".

The Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said the Government will publish its climate action policy within the next two to three weeks.

He said the Government is ready to take action: "In the next two to three weeks you'll see a new climate policy coming from Government.

"It's been in gestation for a year or so now - and I think you'll see it as a very ambitious and, in some cases, quite a radical new climate policy - that certainly the number of people who voted green in this election want to see".