Barbers and hairdressers may get the go-ahead to open on June 29 - three weeks early - it has emerged.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is to recommend the move to Government, which is due to make a decision at a Cabinet meeting on Friday morning.
Originally planned for July 20, a positive decision would mean these businesses could start back up in just over 10 days' time.
With the R-rate of Covid-19 infection steady at 0.7, it appears another lockdown restriction is set to be moved forward a phase.
Though hairdressers and barbers would be able to open to the public if the move goes ahead, strict health and safety and social distancing measures will still need to be in place.
Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said tonight that it is "heartening to see that none of the data suggests that there is a significant increase of transmission of COVID-19 in the community since the commencement of Phase 2".
