Face coverings are set to become mandatory on public transport to help increase capacity as people return to work.
The proposals are set to be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Thursday by Minister for Transport Shane Ross.
It will likely be one of the Independent TD's last moves as he failed to retain his seat in the general election.
The Government’s messaging to the public around masks has been criticised and Ministers have insisted that the wearing of masks will become more important as restrictions loosen and Ireland leaves lockdown for the first time in three months.
The two metre social distancing rule will not apply on public transport as a result and instead operators would be allowed to operate at 50% capacity, The Irish Times reports.
The cabinet meeting is expected to be the Fine Gael-Independent government’s last meeting and they will recommend that regulations be changed to enforce the new rule.
The issue was discussed at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting on Wednesday and it is expected that the mandatory mask rule will take effect in the next week or two, although no date has been set.
The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet tomorrow to discuss phase three of the roadmap for easing restrictions, which is expected to come into effect from Monday, June 29.
Labour Party member of the Covid-19 Response Committee, Duncan Smith, has welcomed moves to make the wearing of face masks compulsory on public transport.
He said: “I welcome the news that the Government is finally making the wearing of face masks compulsory on public transport. Face masks are an essential weapon in this battle against Covid-19.
“Transport unions and indeed users of public transport have been calling for this since the middle of April.
“It is not just enough to issue a directive to the public, we need a clear, concise advertising campaign educating citizens on the proper usage of face masks.”
