The use of EU Digital COVID Certificates may be extended beyond next week amid rising case numbers.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says people need to knuckle down with current restrictions and hygiene advice.
On Wednesday, ministers were given a warning about the rising number of COVID cases which could scupper plans for a further easing next week.
Mr Martin says there is a need to knuckle down with current health restrictions.
"Cases have gone up and the conversion rate between the number of cases and those going into hospital has increased as well.
"And that is a cause of concern, and maybe the guard has dropped a bit across society - understandably - because we've opened up significantly.
"There's a need now, for all of us, to knuckle down".
While Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris, says it may make sense to keep some restrictions.
"On the 22nd of October, vaccine certs were no longer to be required - perhaps if they were to stay a little bit longer that might provide a help.
"So I don't think it's binary 'yes' or 'no'".
While the political mood music is the easing of most of the final restrictions will happen, it now might not be a total lifting of measures, according to Minister Simon Coveney.
He earlier told Newstalk Breakfast: "It is possible that some of restrictions that are due to be lifted may not be on the 22nd - of course that's possible.
NPHET will meet on Monday to advise ministers what it thinks should happen on October 22nd.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said earlier the Government would make its decision next Tuesday.
"While we have made gigantic progress in Ireland this year in reducing the spread of disease, it has now stabilised at a higher level than we would have hoped for - and there are some signs of concern.
"What I want to avoid is being in a situation that the progress that we've made, with re-opening the economy, that we have to reverse our current level of progress.
"So NPHET are going to be meeting early next week, they'll advise the Government, and we'll make a decision on the matter on Tuesday," he told Newstalk.
Ireland's incidence rate of the virus has been rising over the past two weeks, and we are now more than double the EU average.
Immunologist Professor Christine Loscher says it is not a surprise - as society has re-opened further in recent weeks, with people back in the office and schools re-opening.
"I realise there is a cause for concern because there has been a couple of days where they've been high, but I don't think it's unexpected given the level of what we've opened up in society in the last six weeks.
"And I think it's as a direct result of opening up and increased mixing - and that's really been happening over the last six weeks indoors".
But she believes the re-opening can go ahead next week and is urging people to remind themselves of the basics of wearing a mask, sanitizing your hands and keeping your distance.
Additional reporting: Jack Quann and Stephanie Rohan
