The Cabinet are to decide today if Ireland will move to Level 5 restrictions or if they will reject NPHET's proposal for a second time.
It is understood that the new restrictions will be a mix of Level Four and Five on the Government's Living With Covid plan.
Inter-county GAA action returned for the first time in seven months over the weekend and it is believed games at that level will be allowed to continue under the new restrictions.
Horse racing is also expected to be allowed to continue behind closed doors, but gyms look set to be closed, with bars and restaurants also being forced to shut.
Minister Simon Harris said on Sunday he wouldn't be drawn on using the term lockdown but that stricter restrictions were to be put in place.
The Minister said: "The government will act tomorrow, the action will be decisive and it will be nationwide action...
"Tomorrow we will have to bring in more restrictions. Level Three has not worked.
"I don't want to be pedantic about the
phrase lockdown but I don't think that's exactly where we're going but there will certainly be more restrictions.
"In relation to businesses, we're trying to get the balance right here.
"We want to keep as much open as we can but we can't prolong the inevitable either...
"What government is trying to do is try to find that landing spot."
