Taoiseach Brian Cowen said during a visit to the Punchestown count centre for the Ireland East constituency shortly after 7pm this evening that Fianna Fáil was "fighting hard" to retain Eoin Ryan's European seat in Dublin.
"We're hopeful that we'll have a seat here in the East constituency, and also in Munster and in the North-West and we're fighting hard for that seat in Dublin so we'll wait and see what the outcome there is.
"But it's another important day for us and we're facing in from yesterday's results to today's results, recognising that we've had a poor outcome to the election.
"I want to again thank all of the people who worked so hard both in the Euro-election campaign for the candidates and for our local election campaign as well.
"We've lost some stalwart people, including people who have served us well and served their communities well, but on this occasion the tide was out for them and obviously what we have to do is reflect on all of that as we build for the future, that's what we'll do."
When asked for his response to council election candidates who were now openly critical of the party leadership, he said: "I haven't heard any critical voices from anyone at the moment, actually, in fact, what I've been hearing from all of our organisation is that they fought a very positive campaign. Of course there's disappointment. At this time, one has to be sensitive to those who have worked hard and unfortunately haven't been successful.
"But the people have spoken and what we have to do now is get on with our work as a government and continue to communicate the message to the people which is that we'll do whatever is necessary to restore economic stability and bring growth to the economy."
Asked if he accepted that Eoin Ryan's seat in the Dublin Euro-constituency was gone, Mr Cowen said: "No, that count is continuing and I think it's too early to say. It depends on the process of elimination and who goes before whom. So really I don't think there is sufficient data available to make a final assessment, but Eoin is fighting hard for that seat."
Asked if he had any plans to meet Fianna Fáil councillors collectively as he had done during the medical cards controversy last year, Mr Cowen said: "That will be an ongoing thing. What we'll do is, having assessed the outcome, and once we see councils up and running, starting the new tenure, the Fianna Fáil group on all these councils will want to play a positive and constructive role in local government. We're very much interested in a positive agenda and of course we will liaise and conduct a full contact and dialogue with our own councillors as the months and years go forward."
Asked if the election results would influence the forthcoming review of the Programme for Government with the Greens, he replied: "The Programme for Government has to try and take into account some of the concerns we've been listening to but I also have to confirm that we're working within a very tight budgetary framework and that reality doesn't change, regardless of who's in power.
"From our point of view, we're absolutely determined and united as a government to proceed with policies that will bring order back to our public finances. That is a precondition for economic recovery and I think, of course, we know as political realists and political campaigners that at this particular time the public have a lot of valid concerns, indeed, a lot of criticisms that they've been articulating.
"You have to listen to those, at the same time we have to continue to put our message across as to why it is we have to do the policies that we're doing, and also to give hope to the people that, upon making these adjustments, we will get back to the path of growth and be ready for the upturn in the world economy when it comes," Mr Cowen said.