Pubs throughout Ireland would "make every effort" to allow later trading if the Government decides to lift the 8pm curfew as soon as this weekend.
That's according to the Licensed Vintners Association, who are seeking a return of trading until midnight at the earliest possible opportunity.
"Various public health experts and senior representatives of the Government are indicating that the country has entered a new stage of the pandemic, so we are hopeful there will be good news for the reopening of hospitality in the coming days,” said Donall O’Keeffe, Chief Executive of the LVA.
"We would like to see the Government moving swiftly and allowing for the recovery of hospitality to begin as soon as possible. In light of the more positive outlook, we would certainly support the return to opening until midnight from as early as this weekend.
"We know that is what pubs throughout the country would like to see and they would make every effort to be ready if they were given the green light by Government."
The LVA are also asking for a longer-term plan - including the return of nightclubs and standing at a bar counter.
Mr O'Keeffe continued: "We also hope the Government will be able to outline their expected plans for the removal of the other restrictions on the hospitality sector.
"If improvements in the public health environment are progressing as quickly as it seems, then we don’t see why the reopening of late bars, nightclubs and live entertainment can’t follow shortly afterwards, along with the removal of the other restrictions applied to the hospitality sector.
"Every pub in the country would like to permit access to their bar counter again for instance, which they haven’t been able to do since the outset of the pandemic."
