The Independent Alliance says that a minority government is more likely at this stage than a Partnership Government.

The alliance has issued an invitation to the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to discuss how a minority government could work.

However, acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny is still in favour of a Partnership Government with Fianna Fáil and Independent TDs.

Mr Kenny invited Mr Martin and 15 independent TDs to fresh talks early next week to discuss the proposal. He said negotiations on forming a government could not continue indefinitely.

But a Fianna Fáil has restated their rejection of the offer of a partnership government saying it is not a "viable option".

Sean Canney of the Independent Alliance said: “It's like this, the partnership idea is not something that Fianna Fáil want to be part of, so let’s park that. We're going to have a minority government, whether it's Fianna Fáil with independents or Fine Gael with independents it's going to be a minority government.

“But in order to have a minority government and have stability you need to have some sort of mechanism by which it will actually survive and not fall on its sword in the next two or three months.”