If Fine Gael had its way we will not have a Taoiseach any time soon

Eight days on from their disastrous election performance, a battered and bruised Fine Gael party gathered for the first time in Leinster House.

With the loss of 15 seats compared to what they won in 2016, they would have much to talk about.

While those returning greeted new TDs warmly on the way in at 2pm, it would be a long wait before they emerged again.

Six hours in total and by the time the bleary-eyed Fine Gaelers trooped out, the reaction to what was decided was decidedly anti-climactic.

“Habemus papam,” declared press officer Cliona Doyle to awaiting hacks to signal the meeting was over as she raced to get a microphone stand ready on the plinth.

Whatever about having a Pope, if Fine Gael had its way we will not have a Taoiseach any time soon.

Sitting Taoisigh do not normally brief the press from the plinth so the sight of Leo Varadkar here was unusual to say the least.

Doing his best to put a good spin on a terrible result, he insisted he cannot wait to be the leader of the opposition.

He mentioned several times that it took 76 days to form a government in 2016, hinting this time could be even longer.

“I relish the challenge of leading the opposition providing good, robust and detailed forensic opposition to the next government,” he told reporters, shivering in the biting cold.

He said: “It's very much our view that Sinn Féin as the largest party, the onus is on them to form a government. With parties of the left-wing and independents. It's not easy to do that. It took us 76 days to do so.”

But what of the last resort he spoke of during the campaign? Would he do a deal with Fianna Fáil in order to prevent a second election?

“I think that's just far too many hypotheticals there. But certainly, you know, we're not going to be rushed into anything. This time in 2016. We were the largest party. We spent 76 days trying to put together a government involving smaller parties and independents,” he responded.

“I sought and received a mandate from the parliamentary party to talk to other parties so we can do that are willing to talk to other parties, the Tanaiste and I will meet with social democrats tomorrow, for example, so we will talk to other parties to share our analysis and perspective on the outcome of the general election. But I did not seek nor do I have a mandate to engage at any party on programme for government talks,” he added when pressed.

But about his own party's poor performance, Varadkar said he accepted responsibility but that he faced no recrimination from his colleagues.

“No, I don't think there were any criticisms at all of my of my leadership and I know a lot of people felt that my performance in the debates helped pull things back for us a bit in the last week,” he insisted.

Miles to go before we sleep on this one.