The Taoiseach has said the names "of two strong candidates" will be submitted to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen for the role of commissioner "in the next two days".
Micheál Martin said there is "no strain" in the relationship between him and Ms von der Leyen.
Speaking at the launch of the Government's Stay and Spend scheme, the Taoiseach said the three party leaders "are quite entitled to deliberate" on the decision of who will be put forward.
He said he does not believe there has been any damage done to the relationship between Ireland and the European Commission by events of recent days and weeks.
The matter of whether Ireland will maintain the trade portfolio "is a matter for the commissioner," Mr Martin added.
Last night, a meeting of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party heard that the Government decision on naming the candidates to replace Phil Hogan could not be allowed to drift.
The meeting also heard that the three Government party leaders would try to resolve the issue before the end of the week.
It is over a week since Mr Hogan resigned and efforts have been under way in Dublin to interpret political signals about what role in the European Commission his replacement might be appointed to.
There is now a clear sense that it is highly unlikely to be the powerful and prestigious trade role.
For that reason, there was a growing feeling last night that Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney's name would not be forwarded by the Government.
Some believe his loss to the Cabinet at a crucial time in the EU-UK Brexit trade talks would not be a risk worth taking for anything less than the trade role.
This would mean that former tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald, European Parliament First Vice President Mairead McGuinness and former government economic adviser Andrew McDowell could be among the candidates the Government considers.
Last night, Mr Coveney told the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party that the decision could not be allowed to drift.
While Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told colleagues that the three party leaders in Government would try to resolve the issue before the end of the week.
Additional reporting Mícheál Lehane
