The Social Democrats have announced they will not join a coalition with either Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.

The fledgling party says talks with themselves and independent TDs are only 'delaying the inevitable' of a so-called grand coalition.

In a statement, the party says it is now clear that no government can be formed without some sort of arrangement between the two biggest parties.

Co-leader of the Social Democrats Catherine Murphy says the policies of Fianna Fail or Fine Gael don't align with their policies: