The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Government will clarify soon whether the country can begin re-opening next month.

But he has warned it will be a cautious approach as coronavirus figures are still too high.

As it stands, the current level five restrictions are set to continue until March 5th.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet on Tuesday morning, the Taoiseach said he will update people soon on any plans to re-open society.

"We'll bring greater clarity to that towards the middle of this month, but we are in mind that we will be conservative and cautious in terms of any re-opening.

"The objective is prolonged suppression of the virus to get the numbers down very low, and to keep them low".

Green Party Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan arriving for a Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings in January 2021. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

While Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has said further travel restrictions will be introduced to curb the spread of the virus.

Currently passengers have to provide a negative PCR test which was taken 72 hours before arriving into Ireland.

While people have to quarantine for two weeks if they are coming from South Africa or Brazil.

Minister Ryan said this will extend to other countries in time.

"I think we're going to do more extensive restrictions on travel, including quarantine from other countries other than Brazil and South Africa.

"But I think we need to get the system up and running, we need to get the hotels working, and then we can extend".

Reporting by Stephanie Rohan