Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told supporters he will make every effort possible to create a stable government that will last.

In a letter to Fine Gael members, Mr Kenny said he had met with the Social Democrats, Independent Alliance and several other Independents.

He said he had arranged for Ministers to meet the groups to tease out some of the issues on a more in-depth basis.

Mr Kenny said Fine Gael was also drawing up its own list of priorities for any formal negotiations.

“My intention now is to make every effort possible to provide a government for the people, one that will last and that will allow the progress that the country has made over the past five years to continue,” he said.

He also wrote to members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party to say he is committed to forming a government.

In that letter, Mr Kenny said: “As I said in the Dáil last night, all those elected to the 32nd Dáil have a responsibility to intensify efforts at the formation of a stable and lasting government that is needed to sustain the progress of recent years and address emerging domestic and international challenges. Fine Gael is fully committed to that objective.”

Mr Kenny is cutting short his visit to the US to mark St Patrick’s Day in order to be available for talks on forming a new government.