Viewers of Prime Time on Thursday night were in disagreement about the planned reopening of nightclubs this weekend.
The late night venues will be allowed trade again from midnight, while eased restrictions on pubs will also take effect under the government's reopening plans.
While nightclubs and other venues can now reopen at full capacity, people will be able to order a drink at the bar for the first time in 18 months.
However, not everyone is welcoming the enhanced freedoms, with some concerned about greater socialising in the midst of a surge of coronavirus cases.
This was reflected in the reactions from RTE Prime Time viewers after a segment on nightclubs and interviews with leading Irish immunologists.
Prof Kingston Mills and Prof Luke O'Neill both appeared on the programme to discuss the restrictions easing, particularly in relation to nightclubs, pubs and live events.
They also spoke of the merits of antigen testing, which is expected to be utilised more in the coming months as a tool to suppress transmission of the virus.
People took to social media to share their views on Thursday's Prime Time, which also featured an investigation into some "incompetent builders".
However, many couldn't agree about the merits of opening the nightclub sector from Friday.
One person said: "It’s raining nightclubs #rtept."
A second commented: "Seriously though, did people honestly miss nightclubs? #rtept."
A third added: "Can someone please explain why we are opening nightclubs at a time when ICUs are nearly full, hospitals cancelling appointments and surgery and front line hospital staff are exhausted and being refused a booster by NIAC?#rtept."
Another person wrote: "The nightclub industry does seem to have a disproportionate influence within the media - the media just like the industry - I think they should be open & everything should be open up as normal now #rtept."
But in response to this, someone else stated: "This is one of the weirdest takes I’ve seen yet. They’ve been closed for over 18 months solid and have been handed a set of ludicrous rules in order to open. If you add that to our arcane licensing laws, I think you’ll find them on the bottom of the barrel."
It comes as one of Ireland's leading nightclubs issued an update to revellers ahead of reopening.
Coppers in Dublin said it was "ready to get back to it" and confirmed it would be opening its doors again on Friday night from 9pm.
Entry will be strictly limited to over 21s, with Covid-19 vaccination certs and valid IDs mandatory for entry.
