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Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Cabinet that he wants the country to move to Level 3 restrictions next week.
Cabinet ministers heard details of a planned reopening of the economy and society of “graduates in various phases” during December at their weekly meeting.
The full plan is likely to be announced on Friday.
The plan, according to Cabinet sources, is widely agreed, but four main areas remain to be fully resolved.
They are the time to open up hospitality, when travel restrictions can be relaxed, issuing guidance on home visits and trips home from abroad.
Mr. Martin led a brief discussion in cabinet and ministers agreed that their input will be channeled through his party leaders before they meet again on Thursday.
The plan will consist of three main phases.
* Commercial and sports activities to resume and relax the 5 km travel limit from December 2.
* The second phase will see the reopening of hospitality under strict guidelines, but the wet pubs will remain closed.
* Closer to Christmas, Phase 3 will give permission for home visits and will allow travel to any part of the country. This measure is aimed at allowing people to travel home and see their loved ones at Christmas.
the You can confirm:
* Several phases of Covid-19 restrictions will be established for December;
* On Level 3, shops, gyms and hair salons will reopen next week and will remain open;
* Outdoor sports such as tennis and golf will be allowed;
* Under Tier 3 is expected to be phased out and people will be able to travel within their own county starting next week, with further relaxation expected closer to Christmas to allow people to see their families.
* A final decision will be made on how the ban on home visiting will be lifted and will not be adjusted until a later date.
* A measure to allow restaurants to open will follow the following week, but wet pubs are unlikely to be allowed unless they have a working kitchen – a stricter rule compared to what was applied earlier this year.
“Pubs will not be able to use the empty pizza box or the chipper next to it as a means of staying open,” said one minister.
According to sources, the ministers are waiting to receive the final set of recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).
The second phase of restrictions in December is proposed to see restaurants and bars that serve food reopen.
Government ministers have said the easing of hospitality restrictions is likely to be reversed after the New Year if there is an increase in Covid cases.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved an extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Pay until March 31, 2021 at the behest of the Minister of Social Protection, Heather Humphreys.
The plan was to close new entrants on December 31.
Speaking after Cabinet, Ms Humphreys said the decision to keep pay open was made after she engaged with companies in the retail and hotel sectors in recent weeks. He said those sectors are likely to welcome this news.
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