SIMON Coveney, Ireland's deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and trade, said he believes the "mood music" is improving over Brexit negotiations.
He said, however, that there are still "serious problems", and that the UK Government must come forward with alternative proposals to resolve issues around the Irish border.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "We are still waiting for serious proposals from the British Government."
He said there is "still quite a wide gap" between solutions proposed by the UK Government and what Ireland and the EU will "be able to support".
He said the onus is on the UK Government to come forward with alternative proposals to "resolve the Irish border question".
Coveney said trade "which enforces normality and peace" in Ireland must continue.
He said Ireland is being asked to replace a "guarantee around the border question" with a promise that "somehow we'll do our best".
He said: "We want to find a solution, we want to get a deal, and we want to allow the UK to leave the EU in an orderly and sensible manner, but we cannot allow Ireland to be the collateral damage of that.
"I think for Britain to ask us to do that is a very unreasonable request, and it won't be the basis of a deal."
In a statement following the meeting between Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay and Michel Barnier, the European Commission said a "fully workable and legally operational solution" for the Irish border is included in the Withdrawal Agreement.
The statement said they had a discussion on the "state of play of the ongoing Brexit talks, both in relation to the backstop to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland the the Political Declaration on the future relationship".
"Michel Barnier and Steve Barclay agreed that technical talks will continue. These talks deal with a first set of concepts, principles and ideas that the United Kingdom has put forward in talks with TF50 (the EU unit dealing with Brexit).
"It is essential that there is a fully workable and legally operational solution included in the Withdrawal Agreement. We remain willing and open to examine any such proposals that meet all the objectives of the backstop."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here