A decision from the Government on scrapping mandatory face masks in most public settings should be made on Tuesday.
That's according to Peter Burke, Minister of State with responsibility for local government.
He was speaking after NPHET made the recommendations on Thursday.
It would mean the end of the legal requirement to wear masks in the likes of shops, schools and public transport.
Staff in public-facing jobs in businesses such as bars, restaurants and hairdressers would also no longer have to wear masks.
The move is expected to take effect from February 28th, if approved by Government.
Testing and tracing will also be scaled back, with the details of such a move to be finalised.
Minister Burke told Newstalk Breakfast: "I expect we'll hear the decision on Tuesday.
"It's very interesting to see that normally, when we would be talking about COVID before and advice coming in from NPHET, we would be talking about a Cabinet meeting today.
"And obviously just shows you where we have come to and in terms of the phase of the emergency being phased out.
"So it is good in terms of COVID is subsiding, but nevertheless we have to be aware we have 10,000 a day still.
"So there is a great risk there."
But he says they should move quickly on this advice.
"At the end of the day, there will be many decisions that Government got wrong over COVID, and there will be things we got right.
"I think those have to be evaluated - but from my perspective, I think a lot of people are still nervous and cautious.
"That's up to every individual to exercise their own caution into the future.
"But I do think when NPHET say it is safe to lift the mandatory restriction, then we should move quickly to really follow through on that decision by a Government decision".
