The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has asked other EU leaders to help Britain's prime minister with his EU reforms.
He was speaking after David Cameron hailed a "big step forward" in his unprecedented attempt to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the European Union.
Mr Kenny implored other EU leaders that Mr Cameron needed some help, and that they should give it to him.
Mr Cameron spent over half an hour detailing the UK Government's concerns about the EU to all 27 other leaders in the bloc at a summit dinner in Brussels.
"Really good progress has been made, but it is going to be tough," Mr Cameron told reporters.
"Nothing is certain in life or in Brussels but there is a pathway to a deal in February, but the truth is it will be very hard work".
Mr Cameron said the controversial plan to attempt to limit EU migration by making migrants wait four years for benefits was still on the table for further discussion ahead of final decisions in February.
A long list of EU leaders had called the demand "unacceptable" just hours before the dinner. But no alternative to the plan was discussed by Britain or any other nation.
The European Council and Commission will now lead technical talks on as-yet-unspecified options that meet the same objectives as the four-year ban.
At the end of the dinner, Mr Cameron was boosted by talk from the German Chancellor Angela Merkel which suggested any agreement struck in February could promise future treaty change.
"We made it clear that we are ready to compromise, but always on the basis that we safeguard the core European principles, which include non-discrimination and free movement," she said.
The dinner negotiations lasted four hours, with interventions from all of the EU's big hitters.
Italian PM Matteo Renzi had earlier said that Mr Cameron's negotiation would help to create a vision for a new EU, but that agreeing some of the measures would take "months".
The European Council president Donald Tusk called last night's dinner "a make-or-break moment".
"We agreed to work together to find solutions in all four baskets raised by Prime Minster Cameron. Hard work on all baskets is still ahead of us. First we will work closely with the UK and the (European) Commission".
"And in the run-up to the February European Council I will table a concrete text to all the leaders".
When the EU Council meets in February, the pressure really will be on. It is still as yet unclear how a legal compromise on migrant welfare can be reached.
Last night's summit dinner displayed a political will to find one, without identifying the substance of a compromise. There is now two months to find one.
Speaking before the talks last night, Mr Kenny said he did not expect any decision to be made.
