Ireland's hospitality sector has been among the hardest-hit throughout the pandemic.
Pubs, bars and restaurants have been hit by curfews and closures at various points in the last two years.
And the arrival of the highly transmissible Omicron variant at the end of 2021 was no exception, resulting in an 8pm closing time for the industry, a rule that remains in force as we begin 2022.
However there is some light on the horizon as NPHET are set to hold a crunch meeting on Thursday, and government ministers are discussing plans for February and beyond.
And a midnight closing time for pubs, bars and restaurants from the end of January and the start of next month is currently on the table, RTE News reports.
There could also be an increase in the numbers allowed at live events, with a return to offices on the cards further down the line.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan will lead the NPHET meeting later this week which will be crucial in deciding the next steps.
A decision could come on Friday as government leaders will look to avoid a period of uncertainty after the health expert's recommendation.
It comes as it emerged that the “mood within Government” is that the country should not lag behind other European countries in its reopening throughout February and March, according to a senior source.
CEO of the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI), Adrian Cummins said that he would like the lifting of measures to take effect once NPHET meets on Thursday, allowing the industry to reopen fully next week.
He said that the 8pm closing time was "effectively a lockdown for hospitality.”
He said that a phased return of the entire economy was needed, including the night-time economy.
Mr Cummins also called for an extension of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme [EWSS] at its full rate until the end of March.
At present, the EWSS is due to be reduced next month.
Meanwhile Professor of immunology at Maynooth University, Paul Moynagh has said it looks like the Omicron wave has peaked.
But he said it is "difficult to be completely sure.”
He said testing recently has been "really saturated" and the positivity rate has been very high, but looking at numbers over the last few days it "certainly seems they've peaked" and are decreasing now.
Speaking to RTÉ, he said: "If you look at these waves they tend to be symmetrical, we don't really know why.
"So with Omicron, the incline was very, very steep, so we probably expect decline to be something similar and reflect that steep incline."
When asked if it is now time to start the lifting of restrictions, Prof Moynagh said he thinks it "probably is.”
He said the restrictions have been “ relatively ineffective” as it’s too difficult to control Omicron given it is so transmissible.
