The Taoiseach has said his proposal to return the Fine Gael and Labour Coalition has been clearly rejected.
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Taoiseach Enda Kenny has warned rival parties it would be “a costly and seriously historic mistake” to scrap Irish Water.
With the second- and third-largest parties, Fianna Fail, and Sinn Fein, ruling out a coalition with Fine Gael, analysts say Kenny will not be able reach a majority without eventually striking some sort of agreement with Fianna Fail to form a government.
Fine Gael lost 17, finishing with 49 seats.
Questioned on growing criticism from within his own party and calls from ex-Fine Gale Cork East TD Tom Barry for him to resign, Mr Kenny said the election has been “bruising” for everyone.
“And that includes talking to the Fianna Fáil party”.
There was “obsessive engagement with focus groups” and campaign planners seemed unwilling to listen to what members of the parliamentary party were saying, he told Seán O’Rourke.
The new parliament is scheduled to convene on March 10.
“We are not going to go in and prop up a regressive and negative old conservative government, whatever the particular party political complexion”, Mr Adams said.
He added that the Independent Alliance wanted to see a “complete and utter reform” of Irish Water and said Simon Coveney’s comments on Prime Time on Tuesday night suggest it would be foolish for the utility’s customers to continue to pay their bills.
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He denied the party was doing a u-turn on water charges, but said the party was “talking about trying to reflect what people want in Ireland”.
