Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out resigning after his Government suffered a resounding thumping in the general election.

“I have a duty and responsibility to work with the decision that the people have made and provide the country with a stable government and that I intend to do fully and completely,” he said, conceding: “Clearly the option of a majority government is gone. Clearly, the option of a Fine Gael-Labour government is gone.”

With the country’s political future in disarray and several coalition combinations on the table, the Fine Gael leader refused to be drawn on the prospect of a pact with traditional adversaries Fianna Fáil.

“It is a position that one never likes to be in but I want to make it clear that I expect that the Fine Gael party will be a large bloc in the next Oireachtas,” he said.

“From that point of view, my responsibility as Taoiseach is to work to see that our country has a stable government and that has a government that can continue the progress that we have made over the last number of years in bringing the benefits of a recovering economy to all our people.”

Mr Kenny, who had a 30-seat majority after the 2011 election, admitted the election result was disappointing.

“Democracy is always exciting but it is merciless when it clicks in,” he said.

“I want to make it clear that I expect that the Fine Gael party will be a large block in the next Oireachtas and from that point of view my responsibility as Taoiseach is to work to see that our country has a stable government and that it has a government that can continue the work on the progress that we’ve made over the last couple of years in bringing the benefits of a recovering economy to all our people.

“It’s very early days to say what the eventual outcome will be of quite a number of the constituencies will be.

He added: “So I want to wait and see what the eventual final outcome will be and then look at all of the options that are open to me as Taoiseach as head of government.

“I need to call my colleagues togther, my parliamentaly colleagues, my colleagues in government and talk about a number of issues.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the Mayo Convention centre in Castlebar. Picture: PA

Mr Kenny suggested a second election was not on the cards and he believed a new coalition could be formed despite one of the most fractious results in history.

“I’d like to think that it could be possible, given the final results, to be able to put a government together that could work through the many challenges we have,” he said.

Mr Kenny arrived before 9pm at the theatre. He was greeted by a scrum of cameras and the applause of the party faithful.

Police pushed a passage through the crowds in front of him as he shook hands and greeted familiar faces.

John McHugh, 68 and from Castlebar, was tallying votes. A withered Kenny sticker which had seen many doorsteps was peeling from his jacket as he mused on coalition with Fianna Fáil.

“I think the biggest problem Fianna Fail would have is that if they change the rules is it has to be agreed upon by the wider party – which would be more problematic.

“I think politicians are pragmatic, their supporters are not.”

A Fianna Fáil canvasser confirmed the fear. “I will never vote again if they do.”

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