Ireland "must reopen" on October 22 according to Professor Luke O'Neill.
The well-respected expert said it is time to "get on wit things" and that the Government must push on with the opening plans.
Prof. O'Neill told RTE's Brendan O'Connor: "October 22nd is our next moment and they must reopen the nightclubs for definite. If we don't we are just keeping them closed to protect the unvaccinated."
O'Neill also labelled the lack of antigen testing in the country as "disgraceful", while insisting the booster programme will help stem any winter Covid waves.
The professor added: "You will spot 80% of cases with antigen testing. It is a shame we haven't got them in every household."
It comes as the Taoiseach said in a Sunday paper that the country will not be going back steps, but there could be a delay to the full reopening.
In a Sunday Independent interview, the Taoiseach said: "We do not want to go back, and we are not contemplating going backwards. The only issue facing us now is going forward.
"We are not looking at the same situation as last year. We are looking at a completely different approach."
And Mr Martin has said that the booster rollout will be key to getting back to normality fully.
The Taoiseach added: '“Right now we are only administering the booster to over-80-year-olds and those who are auto-immune-supressed. But I would like to see that expanded. And to healthcare workers too.”
