The plan for Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to take over as Taoiseach is set to be delayed by "a few days".
Discussions have been had in the government about pushing back the date for the change, the Irish Independent reports.
Sitting Taoiseach Micheál Martin was previously due to leave the post on December 15th of this year to make way for Mr Varadkar to lead the coalition for the remainder of its session.
The December date clashes with the European Council Summit in Brussels, which Mr Martin is expected to attend.
A senior government source told the Independent: "It is not practical or fair to ask or expect him to resign early, so we’ll sort out a new date."
"Nobody is going to fall out over a few days.”
At the last summit in Brussels earlier this month, a tribute was paid to the outgoing Italian Prime Minister, Mario Draghi.
It was considered unusual that Mr Martin did not receive a similar farewell from his position, indicating the role of Taoiseach would not have changed hands by the next summit.
It is unclear yet which date exactly Mr Varadkar will take up his old post, but the change will be the first step in the upcoming coalition cabinet reshuffle.
