Enda Kenny has said he does not know if there will be a Dáil vote next week to elect a taoiseach.
The acting Taoiseach told the House on Thursday morning discussions were continuing between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on the parameters of an agreement to elect a Fine Gael-led minority government.
He added they were not yet concluded and members of the Independent groups had made it clear they would not offer any support without seeing an agreement.
He said he was “obviously very cognisant’’ of trying to bring the matter to a successful conclusion as speedily as possible.
The Dáil is scheduled to adjourn later today and sit again next Wednesday.
Mr Kenny was replying to Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald who asked him about government formation and also said the Dáil should return on Tuesday to debate crime issues.
Ms McDonald said there had been a spate of killings, not least in Dublin and in her own constituency, adding people’s “fear and vulnerability’’ should be taken seriously.
Mr Kenny said the matter had been discussed earlier at a meeting of the party whips and he expected the debate could take place on next Wednesday or Thursday.
