The Taoiseach has warned Brexit negotiations could go beyond Christmas Day.
There’s still no agreement between the EU and UK as the time before the deadline ticks down.
The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, told member states that the UK’s latest offer on granting European vessels access to British waters is not acceptable.
But he said the EU would give the negotiations a final push.
It emerged that there have been a number of phone calls in recent days between Ursula von der Leyen and Boris Johnson, and these are expected to continue.
However with a breakthrough still out of reach on fisheries and a number of other outstanding issues, negotiators could well be talking beyond Christmas Day.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned there may not be an outcome before Christmas:
