Sinn Féin has today called for close co-operation between parties and TDs of the "broad left".
Speaking after a three-hour meeting of the Sinn Féin parliamentary party in Dublin, the party’s only outgoing TD, Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin also called on Fianna Fáil to co-operate on changing Dáil rules that currently denies small parties equal standing in the House.
Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams, Westminster MPs Mr Pat Doherty and Ms Michelle Gildernew as well as the party’s Officer Board were also at the meeting.
Mr Ó Caoláin said: "Advancing the peace process and the cause of Irish unity and sovereignty will be a priority for us in the new Dáil. We look forward to working with others to create a new political dynamic on this island."
He said the electorate had stated their dissent from aspects of government policy by voting for independents and smaller parties. "There is an onus on both the incoming government and the opposition to act on their mandate from the electorate," Mr Ó Caoláin said.
He said the party would be campaigning for renewed health service, for housing, childcare, rural regeneration and "the implementation of the people's decision on the Treaty of Nice".
He said the party wanted to work with "the Labour Party, the Green Party and like-minded progressive independent deputies on issues where there was broad agreement".
He also referred to the problem of the Dáil Standing Order that requires a technical group of at least seven deputies to be formed in order to obtain speaking rights in the chamber.
Mr Ó Caoláin said: "[the rules] severely restrict the smaller parties in their ability to represent their voters in terms of speaking time, private members' business, introducing legislation and questioning ministers. This is totally undemocratic and must not be allowed to continue."
He said Sinn Fein will urge Fianna Fáil to assist in amending the Standing Orders when the party’s meet.