Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he believes the ratification of a Brexit deal can be facilitated with some degree of "creativity".
Speaking to Euronews, Mr Martin said he believes there is a "landing zone" on the "level playing field" and that a deal could be agreed "perhaps on a staged basis".
The EU and the UK are still trying to iron out an agreement on future relations between the blocs, with the President of the European Commission saying on Wednesday that some issues remain undecided despite "genuine progress".
Mr Martin warned that negotiating a deal was "tight" with time "running out," but added that "sometimes you can get a good result in extra time."
America
It comes as the Finance Minister has described America as a "vital backstop" in developments in Ireland and in Europe.
Paschal Donohoe welcomed comments from US President-elect Joe Biden on keeping an open border between the North and the Republic post-Brexit.
Mr Biden made the remarks on Tuesday, saying there could not be a return to a "guarded border" at the end of the Brexit transition period.
The change in tone and change in language that’s already becoming apparent, I think it’s going to be very, very valuable
“The change in tone and change in language that’s already becoming apparent, I think it’s going to be very, very valuable for 2021 and beyond for Ireland, for Europe, for the world," Minister Donohoe said of Mr Biden's comments.
"America - as you know - has not only been the vital backstop, to use that phrase again, for developments on our island, but has played a similar role for the development of Europe.”
The Minister said there needed to be an end to the Brexit process "very soon".
“We are truly reaching a point in which decisions will need to be made, and the reason for that is because these different agreements will then require ratification and agreement by either parliaments or by governments," he said.
“We do have to see a final outcome to this process very soon.”
