Three newly-elected TDs who will be part of the 33rd Dáil have outlined their thoughts on the formation of the next government.
It follows a new poll today which revealed that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are preparing to put together a "grand coalition" in an effort to form a government.
The Business Post/Red C survey found that 26% of voters would favour a coalition between those two and smaller parties.
A further 26% want Sinn Féin to lead a government involving left-wing parties.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Jennifer Whitmore, a Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, said her party is willing to speak to all other groups in the coming weeks.
She said: "I think we're going to have three or four weeks of a lot of discussions, a lot of grandstanding, beating of chests.
"Then eventually when it comes to the end date I think that someone will sit down and have the discussion.
"At the moment, we are open to talk to everyone but at it is exploratory at this stage."
Green Party TD for Dublin South Central Patrick Costello said his party was similarly open to all prospects.
He said: "We're open to talking to everyone, and we are talking to everyone.
"We are at the start of what could be a long process and along with the grandstanding, there's theatrics, there are people saying what other parties will do without actually talking to the other parties."
Labour leadership
Duncan Smith, a former Councillor and new Labour TD for Dublin Fingal, admitted the recent general election was not a success for his party.
The race to become the next leader of the party officially got under way yesterday after Brendan Howlin announced last week that he would be stepping down from the role.
The process will take around six weeks, with the possible contenders likely to be Alan Kelly, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Ged Nash.
Mr Smith said he had "no preference" on who will be his party's next leader but did not rule out running as a candidate himself.
He said: "Everything's up for discussion at the moment, I suppose there is an argument for a generational shift as well with the leadership.
"I've been around Leinster House for a while so I don't have that fear that I'm necessarily walking into a new place.
"I'm speaking to people over the course of the weekend and in the party who wants to speak to me about this and in respect to them I'm going to do that."
He added: "But whatever we need, we need to do it together. We did not have a good election, we're still in a very fragile place."
