The three Government party leaders have been arriving for a meeting with the National Public Health Emergency Team to discuss the possibility of moving the country into Level 5.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Eamon Ryan are meeting with the Ministers for Health, Finance and Public Expenditure to discuss the implications of going into a Level 5 lockdown.
Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, Tony Holohan, as well as Deputy Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn and Prof Philip Nolan will also be meeting with the TDs to explain the latest Covid trends.
The meeting follows on from advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team to shut down the country for six weeks, in an effort to suppress the coronavirus.
But heading into the meeting, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the Government wants to listen to public health advice and not rush into any decision.
But he warned that "nothing can be ruled out" at this stage.
Speaking to reporters outside Government buildings, Mr Ryan said: "Any decisions have to be made in the best interests of the Irish people.
"The situation is an ongoing concern.
"You don't want to rush in. Sometimes the right decision can take a bit of time. I don't think we should rule anything out."
At this time, Cabinet is not due to meet this weekend to consider the matter.
