Pubs and restaurants should only be allowed 'offer takeaway and delivery services' for Christmas, NPHET has told Government.
These recommendations would clash with the Cabinet's plan to let restaurants and bars that serve food open next Friday.
The recommendation made by Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan will now be debated by the Covid-19 Cabinet Sub Committee, which he'll also attend.
NPHET is also believed to have recommended that only two households be allowed to meet indoors once the Level Five restrictions end next week.
However, the ultimate decision on what will happen next week lies with Government, with all details set to be announced tomorrow.
Signals from Government suggest that it may still be possible to open up restaurants and gastopubs in December.
The group has suggested that social gatherings will be eased to allowed six people from at most three households meet indoors nearer to Christmas time.
Restaurants and pubs would only be allowed to continue offering takeaway and delivery for the whole Christmas period.
People would be asked to wait in their county and not make any non-essential travel to another.
Non-essential retail would be back open with protective measures in place.
Ministers aren't expected to let wet pubs open before Christmas.
One of NPHET's key messages this evening is thought to be that the Government's plan of opening the hospitality sector can't be done if it also plans to ease restrictions on households visits.
