Micheal Martin is set to make his 15th address to the nation so far this year when he announces updated guidelines on the easing of restrictions today.
The Taoiseach will reveal whether the planned lifting of Covid-19 measures for indoor hospitality will be delayed, as well as new guidelines on the vaccine rollout.
Cabinet is meeting this morning to consider advice issued by NPHET last night, and this will be followed by Mr Martin's address later.
Ministers held discussions until 1am on Tuesday about whether indoor dining and drinking will return on July 5 and the threat posed by the Delta variant of the virus.
NPHET's recommendations have been described as "grim", with health officials warning that there could be thousands of cases a day by August if we proceed with a widespread reopening.
Publicans and restauranteurs have slammed the expected news that their establishments will most likely not be allowed to serve customers indoors from Monday.
Here's what the Taoiseach is expected to announce today:
Pubs and restaurants
The return of indoor dining and drinking is doubtful for July 5, with a postponement by a few weeks looking increasingly likely.
The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan confirmed on his way to Cabinet this morning that the Government is set to cancel next week’s pub and restaurants indoor reopening.
July 19 is being projected as the likely date when indoor hospitality can resume.
The other revelation to come last night is that fully-vaccinated people will be able to enjoy bars and restaurants first when doors reopen again sometime next month.
It is understood that thissystem would allow those who are fully immunised back indoors for a meal or a drink.
Mr Ryan indicated that it would take a number of weeks to make arrangements to allow for the 'vaccine ticket' system to be in place.
Stakeholders in the hospitality industry have called for a meeting with the Taoiseach over the anticipated revisions to the reopening roadmap.
Adrian Cummins, the Chief Executive Officer of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, said allowing vaccinated people only back indoors was not a workable prospect.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Vintners' Federation of Ireland hit out at NPHET and urged Cabinet to "take control" of the situation.
Restrictions
Under the Government's roadmap for reopening issued at the end of May, a number of other lockdown measures in addition to indoor hospitality are set to be eased.
Although the projections are "subject to the public health situation at the time", looser rules around gatherings, weddings, and religious services are expected to go ahead.
Mr Martin is likely to say that up to 50 people can attend a wedding celebration or reception next month, up from the current limit of 25.
However, it is not known as yet whether this will go ahead from July 5 as planned or will also be subject to a deferral in line with the delay of indoor dining.
From next week, first communions, confirmations and baptisms were due to recommence, as well as visitors from up to three other households permitted inside your home.
This is up in the air at the movement, but given the Government's concern about the spread of the Delta variant, particularly in indoor settings, any activities that allow people to meet inside are likely to be limited.
The good news which the Taoiseach is expected to announce surrounds the further return of spectators to outdoor sports events
Cabinet is expected to approve the guidelines which were due to take effect from July 5.
Under these plans, up to 200 people could be allowed to attend sports fixtures in the majority of venues outdoors.
A maximum of 500 fans would be allowed in outdoor venues with a minimum capacity of 5,000.
Additionally, international travel is set to be back as forecasted for July 19 in line with the Government's adoption of the EU Digital Green Cert scheme.
Vaccines
Some positive news to emerge from crunch talks yesterday is that people aged between 18 and 40 can be given the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
If the new recommendations from NIAC to the Government are undertaken, which the Taoiseach is expected to confirm later, younger people would be able to get their jabs much sooner than anticipated.
Eamon Ryan said it was "good news" in that plans are progressing for AstraZeneca and the one-shot J&J vaccine to be offered to the younger age groups.
Meanwhile, the interval between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca can be cut to four weeks, according to the vaccine advisory body's advice.
Hundreds of thousands of people waiting on their second vaccine can now expect to be fully inoculated quicker.
These are mainly people aged between 60-69 and vulnerable people in cohort four of the State’s vaccination programme.
The gap between the first and second dose of the jab was initially 12 weeks which was cut to eight weeks and now it’s likely people waiting on their second jab could get it sooner once the government adopts the new four week gap advice.
A source said NIAC’s recommendation “is very welcome” as it will “help to get ahead of the Delta variant.”
They added that the government has been “anxious” that hundreds of thousands of people aged 60 and over as well as those who are vulnerable, are still waiting on their second vaccine dose while the Delta variant is “looming.”
The HSE will now examine how it can adapt the vaccine programme to meet this recommendation.
