Ireland will still have a "meaningful Christmas" despite more restrictions being brought in before the new year, the Taoieach has said.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has recommended that Government end Ireland's period of eased measures for the festive season ahead of January 6.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said last night that retail will remain open, but that the hospitality sector would essentially close.
It is expected that the change, which would see households limited to one other home for visits and the return of the county travel ban, could come in as early as Monday, December 28.
Speaking on Friday morning, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that we will still have a "meaningful Christmas", but that is is very likely new measures will be here within days.
He told Newstalk Breakfast: "We did go through six weeks of severe Level Five, that did work to such an extent that we have a low incidence of the virus going into Christmas.
"After six weeks there's only so much people can take and I think you have to balance that.
"Protecting life and public health is the overarching objective, and when you think there are vaccines on the way, why risk too much the lives of people, if we get this balance right we can get there...
"I said in October I wanted to give people a meaningful Christmas and that will happen.
"In terms of mental wellbeing and families meeting, that important but people need to mind themselves."
Asked about whether or not pubs and restaurants would close, he added: "I don't want to pre-empt Government decisions obviously, because other ministers will have things to say as well.
"But yes, that's the route we'll be recommending to Cabinet."
