Taoiseach Micheál Martin will make a significant State of the Nation address on Friday and will outline when all remaining Covid restrictions will be stood down.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has advised that the Government can remove restrictions on the hospitality industry including the 8pm curfew and the use of Covid passes.
It’s expected that pubs can go back to pulling pints late into the night from early next week.
However, Cabinet Ministers will decide if pubs could open as early as this weekend.
The hospitality industry has said they are ready to open on Friday.
NPHET has given the Government the green light to decide when full capacity can return at outdoor and indoor events, no limit on household visits and the reopening of nightclubs.
In his letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Dr Holohan also said the Government could end the two metre social distancing rule and that working from home can end on a phased basis.
The only rules that are expected to remain for some time include mask wearing in crowded settings and on public transport and schools, Covid passes for international travel and rules for people to isolate if they become symptomatic.
A senior Government source said: “There will be an early lifting of restrictions and pubs will get to stay open later from early next week.
“There will be a comprehensive plan announced by the Taoiseach on Friday as there is agreement it’s time to move onto the next chapter of living with Covid-19.
“We will of course listen to public health advice and react again if needed but everyone is relaxed about the near future now.”
It’s expected that Government will proceed with lifting restrictions on a phased approach and Ministers will be discussing the timeline for lifting the restrictions on Friday.
Cabinet will meet at 3pm to sign off on the plan to lift all remaining restrictions and the Taoiseach will address the public later on Friday.
There is some surprise within Government that NPHET has gone beyond what was expected.
A Cabinet source said on Friday night: “We knew it would be positive from Tony but we didn’t expect to be given this much lee-way.
“It’s very encouraging and a sign that we are moving on and into the next phase of living with this.”
Mr Martin has said he will give certainty to the public on Friday and said “we are entering a new phase.”
He said: “I hope to be in a position to give a comprehensive and clear position in terms of the lifting of restrictions and also how we intend to live with Covid because Covid isn’t going away.”
Cabinet is set to meet at 3pm on Friday and sign off on the plan which will detail how the country moves forward.
Reacting to the news, CEO of the Restaurant Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins has called on the Government to allow the sector reopen immediately.
He said: “In light of NPHET’s Public Health advice to stand down many of Covid restrictions, we are calling on the Government to allow all hospitality businesses trade as normal from Friday.”
