An immunology professor says restrictions should start to loosen immediately, if NPHET recommends it.
Liam Fanning was speaking as the advisory group will meet on Thursday to consider an easing of measures.
While the Cabinet meets for the first time this year on Wednesday.
But UCC Prof Fanning told Newstalk Breakfast the Government shouldn't wait on this if they get the green light.
"Now is the time to move - as soon as NPHET make their decision on Thursday, whatever it is, on Friday Government should meet and have those restrictions gone by the weekend.
"We have a wall of immunity around this country protecting us, and we're at the best point to be protected to do the most we can.
"In some sense the Government have become too comfortable with implementing restrictions too quickly.
"Even [CMO] Tony Holohan said the the 8 o'clock close, or the 5 o'clock close that he wanted, wasn't based on evidence.
"And I think actually it's probably largely agreed that the quantum of individuals infected - even with the lockdown until 8 o'clock - wasn't really substantially impacted by that.
"It pushed people into homes, so it probably - some aspect of it - actually drove the infection rate.
"I think pubs could be open until midnight, the nightclubs could start."
'We are at the best point'
He believes a wider discussions should take place around mask wearing.
"We have to have a discussion around maybe dropping the masks fairly quickly once the numbers drop below 100 per 100,000 thousand, I think the masks should be gone.
"Maybe even a consideration of that in schools as well".
Prof Fanning says some elements, such as masks on public transport, could be left to individuals.
"Make it a personal choice - we have to start engaging with individuals to kind of make it their own choice whether they wear a mask or not.
"We have 93%+ double vaccinated, we have several million people infected as a result of Omicron and previous variants.
"So we are at the best point, immunologically speaking, to start loosening all the restrictions and getting people back to living".
On Tuesday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told his party he wants to set an end date for most legal restrictions of March 31st.
But he said some measures like the COVID Certificate for travel, mask wearing in crowded places and staying at home if symptomatic may last longer.
