The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says Ireland is "moving towards the end game" to get retroactive bank recapitalision.
Mr Kenny was speaking as he arrived in Brussels after agreement was reached on a phase of banking union overnight.
He welcomed the agreement on the Single Resolution Mechanism, and says it is a step towards us getting back from Europe some of the billions that we put into the banks.
The Taoiseach said: "We're moving towards the end game in terms of having the structure put in place by which matters of recapitalision can be considered.
"And as I have always said that will apply on a case-by-case basis from the end of the year."