The two metre social distancing rule for hotels, pubs and restaurants could be reduced to one metre, at times when the COVID-19 transmission rate is low.

Guidelines are being reviewed to help the hospitality sector, with fears the current measures mean thousands of people will not return to work in the tourism sector.

A further four people with Covid-19 have died, bringing the death toll here to 1,683, while nine new cases have been confirmed.

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There has been a rise in the number of COVID-19 clusters emerging in private households in recent days.

Two weeks ago, six clusters were confirmed in family homes - but that has risen to 16 in the past week.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, says it is something families should be conscious of.

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The private funeral of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of a police officer in Minnesota sparked worldwide protest, takes place in Houston, Texas on Tuesday.

Mr Floyd died after now sacked officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nine minutes during an attempted arrest last month.

Chauvin was charged with second degree murder and was granted bail at US$1.25m on Monday.

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Government formation talks continue today with all members of each negotiating team due to meet later to try to thrash out outstanding issues in their bid to agree a programme for government.

The leaders and negotiating teams met separately over the weekend while the parties' deputy leaders have also held talks.

Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens are trying to reach common ground on a range of issues.

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From today householders will be banned from using hosepipes to water the grass or wash their car.

Irish Water says it is introducing the measure, which will be in place for the next six weeks, in the wake of the driest May since 1850.

It says 77 of the utility's drinking water schemes are in drought or at risk of drought.