Newly appointed Fine Gael Leader Mr Enda Kenny today criticised what he called the "mismanagement of public finances and the ineptness of Government ministers".
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Other opposition parties also ensured that there was no easy transition for the incoming Government.
"I can assure the performances of the Ministers in this Government will be carefully monitored and challenged by Fine Gael," said Mr Kenny.
"We will provide vigorous and constructive opposition but we will not tolerate the inept and incompetent performances which were the hallmark of many members of the last Government.
Mr Kenny also criticised the Government over violent crime, housing, regional development, hospital waiting lists, the National Development Plan and the rate of inflation.
Labour Party leader Mr Ruairí Quinn said that his party will hold the Government to account and offer an alternative view of Ireland.
"The rising tide lifted all boats sufficiently to return an unashamedly right-wing Government. As a social democrat, I regret the decision that the people made, but as a democrat I accept and respect it," he said.
Mr Quinn said Labour had campaigned for equality in health services, better funded schools, a fair deal for carers and pensioners, substantial improvements in childcare and for radical improvements to infrastructure.
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"In the course of this Dáil, we will continue to campaign for those things, and for the society to which we, a European Social Democratic Party, aspire."
He added that the Labour Party would challenge the Progressive Democrats to live up to their commitment to the electorate, to serve as the watchdog on Fianna Fáil. "But frankly, I do not believe that the PDs will have any great impact on this Government...
"The Taoiseach does not need their votes in this house. They are simply a form of window dressing. The much vaunted watchdog may whimper from time to time. The new Minster for Justice may well even growl. But the watchdog will have no teeth," he said.
Sinn Féin TD Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that the General Election did not change the Government, it changed the Opposition. "A new reality in a new Dáil must be recognized in the procedures of this House," he said.
"Dáil Standing Orders must be changed if the mandate of the electorate is to be respected. Current Standing Orders severely restrict the smaller parties and the independents in their ability to fully represent their voters. This is totally undemocratic and must not be allowed to continue," said Mr Ó Caoláin.
The Sinn Féin TD also said that the outgoing Government had unprecedented resources at its disposal. "It had opportunities never available to any previous government. Regrettably it failed to use those opportunities to create a more equal society," he said.
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The Green Party protested in the Dáil Chamber this morning to highlight what they described as "the Government’s political apartheid towards Green Party participation in the Dáil". Taking up positions on the Government front benches the Green TDs, refused to vacate the seats until they had talked with Government Chief Whip Mr Seamus Brennan.
The Green Party chairman, Mr John Gormley said: "In the last Dáil, Greens and small parties had to go cap in hand to bigger parties to speak for a few minutes here and there on important Bills.
"This is an unacceptable situation and contrary to any basic understanding of democracy. If we are serious about Dáil reform, then the present inequalities need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. All that is required is a simple change in standing orders," he said.
Mr Brennan agreed to a meeting with the Green TDs next week.
