The UK is reportedly planning to offer the Republic 3.7million spare Covid vaccines as early as Easter in part to help lift lockdown in Northern Ireland.
It would become the first time Britain has exported jabs to the EU amid a brewing trade dispute over supplies which saw Brussels threatening to block doses shipping to the UK.
The Government could start offering vaccines to Ireland from next week after a record-breaking week which saw 844,285 doses given across the UK in just one day.
Plans to offer surplus jabs to Ireland are being made in part to help lift lockdown in Northern Ireland, the Sunday Times reports.
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has reportedly discussed the move with Michael Gove, chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary.
A cabinet source told the paper: “Everyone can see the logic of it. It’s good politics, while at the same time solving a genuine public health concern in Northern Ireland.
“It is a balancing act, making sure that we have enough vaccines to give the UK’s adult population the second dose. Easter will be when we might be able to start offering vaccines to Ireland.”
But Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden cast doubt on the plan, saying the UK does not "currently have a surplus" of coronavirus vaccines following a report jabs could be sent to Ireland.
He told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "Clearly, our first priority is ensuring we deliver vaccines in the United Kingdom.
"We clearly don't currently have a surplus of vaccines, should we get to the point where we have a surplus of vaccines we'd make decisions on the allocation of that surplus."
It comes as Boris Johnson faces calls to begin donating vaccines to developing countries.
Health and development charities urged the Prime Minister on Sunday to take "accelerated action" and "swiftly clarify" how doses will be shared.
Wellcome, led by Sage scientist Sir Jeremy Farrar, and Save the Children UK were among those making the demand in a letter to Mr Johnson.
After a record-breaking week, 55 per cent of UK adults over the age of 18 have received a first jab and 5.3 per cent a second, according the latest data.
All over-40s are expected to have received a vaccination by Easter.
Earlier this week Boris Johnson warned that a vaccine trade war with the EU would result in “considerable” and “long-term” damage.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the UK Government and European Commission said they are working together “to create a win-win situation and expand vaccine supply for all our citizens”.
The statement came after the commission said it will tighten the EU’s vaccine export rules, prompting fears it could bar supplies being sent to the UK.
The EU announced the move as it is embroiled in a row with AstraZeneca over supplies - but refused to rule out Pfizer jabs being restricted to the UK if sufficient vaccines are not shipped to the bloc.
