EU member states are expected to grant a further Brexit extension today, delaying the UK's exit until January 31.
Following weekend discussions, the 27 EU ambassadors are expected to approve a draft declaration which will extend the withdrawal period.
It's understood Britain will have the option to formally leave the EU earlier if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified before the end of the year, RTE reports.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a request to extend Article 50, the legal mechanism by which a state can leave the union, in an unsigned letter on October 19.
With talk of an election in Westminister, it was believed the EU were waiting for the UK to clarify why they would need an extension to the October 31 deadline.
But Mr Johnson has been stalling, saying he would wait to see what the EU said about the extension before dealing with an election.
France had been pushing for a short extension but appears to have since dropped their demands.
While the EU is expected to grant the three month extension, the UK have been warned that it cannot be used to try to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement.
And the UK will also be obliged to appoint an EU commissioner while they wait.
