The Irish times report is saying that an Irish backstop agreement may be close, but the complexity and interconnectedness of the few remaining issues makes agreement far from certain.
Earlier this weekend, the Sunday Times reported that Prime Minister Theresa May has secured a “secret deal”, under which an all-UK customs deal will be written into the legally binding agreement governing Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.
The UK and the EU negotiators will resume their talks today and will re-enter the “tunnel” – a mutually agreed shutdown of external comment.