Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said Ireland is open to changes that could see a shift away from the veto on some EU foreign policy and defence issues.
Speaking on his arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Mr Martin said: "We are open to reforms.
"There are many creative ways that can be developed to facilitate better governance, better decision making, and more rapid decision making than has been the case on some issues.
"In the context of [the EU's] common foreign and security policy, we will be very open to considering such changes, but obviously we'd have to see them in the first instance."
Currently all EU member states have a veto in the sphere of foreign and security policy at EU level, except in certain clearly defined cases such as the appointment of a special representative, where decisions are taken by what is called qualified majority voting (QMV).
However, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and in particular the ability of Hungary to use its veto to hold up sanctions against Moscow, there has been a growing call to drop the veto on issues such as sanctions and human rights.
On 4 May, nine member states - Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain - formed the so-called Friends of QMV group to push for a move away from unanimity and towards qualified majority voting.
In a joint statement the group said it was pushing to "improve effectiveness and speed of our foreign-policy decision-making."
The group said practical steps could be taken using provisions "already provided for in the [EU treaties]."
Ireland is not a member of the group, which met ahead of today's meeting of EU foreign ministers.
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However, the Tánaiste said there was a range of options that could be used, although he did not specify if this included ending the national veto in certain areas.
He said Ireland supported the further enlargement of the EU and that would, in any case, require changes to the EU's governance.
"That initiative [moving to QMV] will be on the table more broadly speaking, because if we enlarge the European Union, which I think we should do, that will entail changes on the system of making governance work more smoothly," Mr Martin said.
"Decision making is important so it's always a balance. I do believe that national considerations can always be accommodated but decision making and the process of decision making is important."
Mr Martin also said a consensus was emerging within the government of addressing the so-called Triple Lock and he could see "policy changes emerging" as a result of the consultative forums the government was convening in June.
Under the Triple Lock Ireland requires a UN resolution if it wants to send peacekeepers abroad.
However, the ability of Russia and China to veto such resolutions has led some to question the logic of that part of the Triple Lock.
The Tánaiste said: "It is simply not acceptable that Russia would have a veto on our participation in peacekeeping."
He said the greater use by some countries in the developing world by the Russian mercenary group Wagner had also led to a reluctance to facilitate UN missions.
"I think we have to consider this and I do see, potentially, policy changes emerging. We look forward to the debate," he said.
