Restrictions on hospitality opening hours could lift as early as tomorrow after NPHET cleared the way for a major easing of restrictions.
The Coalition leaders are meeting this lunchtime to consider when to ease measures and phase out business supports.
That will be followed by a full Cabinet meeting this afternoon and an announcement from the Taoiseach at around 6pm this evening.
NPHET has recommended nearly all restrictions can be dropped - apart from measures such as COVID certs for international travel and mask-wearing on public transport and in shops.
The expectation is the 8pm curfew on hospitality and indoor events will be eased as early as tomorrow, with nightclubs also allowed to open.
However, Leo Varadkar has cautioned it may take a little time to remove some of the laws that are currently in place.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar arriving at Government Buildings today for a meeting of the party leaders before the meeting of the full Cabinet this afternoon. Photograph: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ieSpeaking on his way into his meeting with Micheál Martin and Eamon Ryan, the Tánaiste said they'll be looking at issues of timing of easing restrictions and phasing out financial supports.
He said: "Some things can be done quickly because they're just guidance. Other restrictions require legislation to be rescinded or repealed.
"Certainly I think the view across Government is that if there's no longer a public health rationale for any particular restriction, then there's no political rationale either.
"But there are things that need to be worked out to make something that's currently illegal legal."
He said there won't be a 'cliff-edge' end to financial supports, but they will end.
The need for COVID passes to enter hospitality is also set to expire under the new advice.
Mask-wearing in shops and on public transport is being kept, along with isolation rules for positive cases and the need for COVID certs for international travel.
Mask-wearing and safety measures in schools will also continue for a while longer.
Guidance is expected on the return to the workplace, but that will come over the next few weeks rather than immediately.
