The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet this morning to consider how the country should exit Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions next week.
The meeting is taking place a day earlier than usual, with Cabinet set to consider NPHET's recommendations ahead of an announcement tomorrow or Friday.
It's expected Ireland will move to a modified level 3 next week with retail reopening - however, hotels and restaurants will be later in the month, and wet pubs are expected to stay closed.
As attention now turns to lifting level 5 restrictions, and what the festive season might look like, Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin asked the Government to ensure that people receive simple messages that are clear and unambiguous when it comes to guidelines around Christmas.
The Independent TD said she did not want to hear about bringing your own plates or cutlery, or sitting Grandad near an open window, adding "if Covid doesn't get him, the flu might".
Deputy Harkin insisted that straightforward messages were needed around the number of households that can meet up at Christmas, as well as the exact requirements for those travelling home.
