As election results continued to roll in Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last night refused to discuss potential coalition partners after the final seats in the 30th Dail are decided.
Speaking last night following a clear, if not widely predicted, success for Fianna Fáil's election campaign, Mr Ahern would not discuss the potential for his party to go into a new government with the support of the Labour Party.
The two parties last night looked to be the potential coalition partners based on seat numbers in the final shake-up as Fianna Fáil's former coalition partners, the Progressive Democrats, looked likely to lose the majority of the eight seats they had in the outgoing Dáil.
Mr Ahern and other Fianna Fáil Ministers have already firmly ruled out seeking the support of Sinn Féin in any coalition.
Asked in an interview on RTÉ television would he actively pursue coalition with Labour, Mr Ahern said: "I will work that one out in due course."
He said he had not deviated from his position during the campaign that he wanted an overall majority for Fianna Fáil.
But he did not believe he would achieve that and had highlighted Fianna Fáil's work with the Progressive Democrats in the last two governments.
"When I was asked about the Labour Party, I said 'well, the people will decide and then the politicians will have to follow'. And that's exactly what happened."
Mr Ahern said he hadn't accepted some analysis during the election campaign that there would be "meltdown" for Fianna Fáil in the poll.
"We've had our ups and downs on some of the days in the campaign," he said.
But he didn't believe anyone "out there on the hustings" had ever believed the party was going to dip and lose a huge number of seats. He expected Fianna Fáil to take up to 78 seats, he said.
"This is an exceptional vote for the party. There is very few parties anywhere in Europe who would achieve what Fianna Fáil have today."
Fianna Fáil exceeded 41 per cent of the first preference vote nationally, matching its showing in the 2002 general election. That vote was also in line with the latest polls taken before the election. An Irish Times/TNS mrbipoll last Monday showed the party up five points to 41 per cent, to surprise in some political and media circles.
Mr Ahern also said he did not agree with the analysis of some that the result for Fianna Fáil yesterday was about fear of change.
He said people had made up their own minds, but it didn't mean they agreed with every aspect of Fianna Fáil's policies.
"That's democratic politics," Mr Ahern said.
He said the election campaign was "far more passionate" than the ones of 1997 and 2002.
"I mean, it was tough...but there was real passion in it."
On Tánaiste and Progressive Democrat leader Michael McDowell's loss of his seat in Dublin South East and his decision to leave political life last night, Mr Ahern said: "I must say to Michael...I'm sorry for him that the campaign wasn't better for him and his party.
"I'm very sad that he's leaving Irish politics because he's a good colleague. I've worked with him for many years, he was Attorney General, I've worked with him at the Cabinet table. Michael McDowell is tough but hugely bright, probably one of the best and toughest in Leinster House in terms of debate...and few brighter than him."
Mr Ahern said that the smaller parties in the campaign had probably been hit by the "Enda or Bertie" effect in the campaign.
On whether he would serve a full five year term or consider handing over the reins of leadership before then, Mr Ahern said: "Whenever I do, and I'm going to try and finish do my best to finish it out. I've said I'm out of politics at 60 and...whatever time I spend in it that gives me about four years, so I will do my very best to serve the people.
"It is a huge honour to be in this position 30 years on and in your 10 thelection and to be probably the Irish politician of modern times that has been...everything about you has been raked over more than anybody else."
Mr Ahern was also asked about the focus on his own finances during the campaign. He said he believed the level of questioning and scrutiny of politicians by the media was becoming "intrusive".
He said there could be a few "rules of the game" established. "It isn't really about a blood sport. It isn't really about trying to denigrate people. It is about the future of the country and how the country is run and how it's managed. It's not necessary, I think, to try and kick the light out of people who are trying to do a good job."