TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has said the local election results have been ‘difficult’ for Fine Gael, describing it as ‘not a good day for people in Government’.

Speaking on Newstalk FM late last night, the Taoiseach defended the Government’s record in office and said that the backlash by voters had been predictable.

“I respect the vote… I know what’s in the vote,” he said. “It’s frustration and it’s anger, and it’s saying, ‘Show me where the return on my challenge and the sacrifice I have made is’”.

As of this morning, Fine Gael has just over 70 seats, behind Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, and Independents.

“Clearly we [Fine Gael] have lost a substantial number of councillors ourselves who would have served their communities well over the years,” he said.

Enda Kenny would not speculate on the future of Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore after the junior coalition partners saw their vote drop dramatically in the local elections.

“You don’t ask me questions about other parties,” he told interviewer John Keogh. He said the Tánaiste would be sitting beside him at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting and said the two had a very strong working relationship.

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