Ireland's Fianna Fail to seek to form government without Sinn Fein

The Leader of Ireland's opposition Fianna Fail party, Micheal Martin is seen in the grounds of Government Buildings in Dublin, Ireland on November 24, 2017. (REUTERS File Photo)

DUBLIN, February 13 (Reuters): - Ireland's centre-right Fianna Fail party will seek to form a government that does not include left-wing nationalists Sinn Fein, a senior member of the party said on Thursday following a meeting of the party's lawmakers.

"We gave the party leader license to speak to whoever he needs to speak to, with the exception of a Sinn Fein," senior Fianna Fail lawmaker Niall Collins told Reuters.

Two of the three largest parties will need to cooperate to form a government, with Fianna Fail on 38 seats, Sinn Fein on 37 and centre-right Fine Gael on 35 in the 160-seat parliament, while Fine Gael has already ruled out a deal with Sinn Fein.