Details of Ireland's strategy for exiting Level Five will be revealed at the end of next week, with the Government considering extended opening hours for retailers in December.
Minister of State for Employment Affairs and Retail Business Damien English said this afternoon that the Government will meet with public health bosses next week to discuss the results of Level Five restrictions over the last month.
Mr English added that it is the Government's "full intention" that the retail sector will open as planned on December 1, and rejected criticism from retailers after an employers' group this morning accused the State of "flying a kite".
"We have always said that whenever the figures allowed we would open," the Fine Gael TD said today on RTE's News at One.
Mr English warned that this Christmas will not be the same as others, even if restrictions are eased ahead of the festive period.
He said the plan "is to open as soon as we can," in words that could offer hope to retailers battling the effects of two nationwide lockdowns in one year.
And the Minister refuted claims that the Government is hiding behind the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) when it comes to making decisions on exiting lockdown.
"The Government makes decisions, NPHET advises," he said.
His comments come after stark warnings from health bosses in recent days, amid a slight uptick in case numbers.
Yesterday, Dr Tony Holohan said he's "increasingly concerned" by rising cases in a number of counties over recent days.
The Chief Medical Officer warned: "I am increasingly concerned that the positive trends we had seen recently have not been maintained.
"The 5-day moving average of daily cases has increased from an average of 350 cases on the 11 November to 424 today.
"We have two weeks to continue in our efforts to drive down community transmission of this disease as much as possible. The lower the incidence the more flexibility the country will have in easing measures."
