The prospects of a rainbow alliance at the next general election have increased following the results of the Meath and Kildare North byelections. Mark Hennessy and Liam Reid report
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny will shortly discuss the election results with Labour leader Pat Rabbitte in a attempt to form an alliance.
Still jubilant about Shane McEntee's Meath win, Mr Kenny said he was "delighted that our transfer pact with the Labour Party worked extremely well".
Mr McEntee defeated Fianna Fáil's Shane Cassells by nearly 3,000 votes on the fourth count, following the elimination of Labour's Dominic Hannigan and Sinn Féin's Joe Reilly.
Mr Rabbitte also defended the pact, saying the Irish people "want to have a choice at the next general election".
Fianna Fáil, meanwhile, is to reorganise in Kildare North following the exposure of major weaknesses and infighting during the campaign. The failure of some leading party figures in Kildare to support its candidate, Áine Brady, has caused irritation at senior levels.
Independent Catherine Murphy won in Kildare, finishing 2,000 votes ahead of Ms Brady at the end of the last count.
Though the Labour-Fine Gael transfer rate in Kildare stood at just 40 per cent, the performance in Meath was considerably better, running at some 60 per cent.
Mr Kenny said: "The results confirmed the verdict delivered last June that the people are tired of this Government and will be open to change when the next general election is held." Meanwhile, in an interview on TV3, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said he would not take part in a Fianna Fáil-Greens coalition government.