The Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has called on opposition parties to play a "positive and constructive" role in their dealings with the new government.

Sinn Féin has been critical of the new Government - claiming it's effectively a coalition between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

The Minister says the balance of power between the Government and the Dáil has now shifted.

He thinks this provides a new opportunity for all sides.

"The programme for Government that has been agreed between Fine Gael and a number of other groups of an Independent hue, that will have the backing under certain circumstances of Fianna Fáil, does present that opportunity.

"And I would appeal to everybody in the Dáil, all 158 members, to be positive and to be constructive."