The Government is considering allowing three households to gather for Christmas.
It's part of a range of options Ministers are discussing, before a decision is announced later this week on Level 5 restrictions.
NPHET is meeting this morning to make its recommendation on easing the measures.
It's likely Ireland will reopen in phases, with retail first, followed by hotels and restaurants; however, it's expected wet pubs will remain closed.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan hopes we will be through the worst of the crisis in six months time:
"It's controlled environments we'll bring back. We don't want this third flare the Tánaiste was talking about yesterday; we want to try to avoid that. The way we avoid it is opening up as much of the controlled environments where we know we can do it safely; where it's going to be good for our health and good for the economy, so I think they come first and we will have to continue to review it."
Main Image: A woman lights the fourth candle on the Advent wreath, 22-12-19. Photo Credit: Angelika Warmuth/DPA/PA Images
