Former Labour adviser Fergus Finlay has encouraged acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny to relish the opportunity 'to do exciting stuff'.

“This is an opportunity to make changes. Good politicians should relish this opportunity. He should go for it and embrace it,” Mr Finlay said on the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk.

“He should think like Sean Lemass,” he added. “Enda Kenny can do what he believes in to fix problems, he has nothing to lose. He is now master of his own destiny, he should do it, have fun with it.”

Mr Finlay said Mr Kenny should prioritise a few areas and then make a foundation statement.

“The people said no to tax cuts that were offered in the election, they want to see things fixed, he should take his cue from that.

“Fix health, education, housing - put the right people in place to do that.”

He added that Mr Kenny should bring new faces to the Cabinet table. “He should bring new energy, a new buzz to the Cabinet.”

Leadership change

Meanwhile, Mr Finlay said there has to be a change of leadership in the Labour Party and Joan Burton must step down.

Speaking on the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk radio, Mr Finlay said he had enormous respect for Ms Burton, who “battled really hard” for the party.

“She has done all she can do. But in the aftermath of an election result like that, every democratic leader in the world knows the consequences,” he said.

“You either leave or you take responsibility.”

Meanwhile, opinion in the Labour Party has hardened against another coalition with Fine Gael, with strong indications that party members will reject such a proposal.

While senior Labour figures did not shut down the prospect entirely, a number of TDs have expressed opposition to another alliance with Fine Gael.

There is also concern among some Fine Gael Ministers that bringing Labour into the fold would delay the process of government formation further, although acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny is keen to bring the party on board.