Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said the Government will maintain a voluntary vaccination system despite NPHET exploring mandatory vaccination.
He also said Government would not be reviewing the 8pm closing time for pubs and restaurants this week.
Current restrictions in place are due to expire on January 30.
Minutes of NPHET’s latest meeting show the public health emergency team will consider mandatory vaccination and a new paper is being prepared by the Department of Health.
However, several Government Ministers have indicated this will not happen given Ireland's high vaccination rates.
Speaking in Cork on Monday, the Taoiseach said: “First of all I think NPHET will examine every issue so that it can give advice to Government from time to time.
“I’ve been very clear that I favour the voluntary approach to vaccination and in fact we’ve done extraordinarily well as a country..
“I fully expect people will fully explore all issues and research them and so on but from my perspective we’ve achieved one of the highest rates in the world through a voluntary system and that’s the system we will maintain.”
The Taoiseach also said he is confident that the country can get through the Omicron wave without any further restrictions.
He said: “I am at this stage and that said we want to give it another week or two.
“We haven’t peaked yet and Covid has had many twists and turns but I am confident if we maintain the same focus we can get through this wave.”
He said Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan will give advice to Government in the coming days on potential changes to the isolation period required for close contacts of confirmed Covid cases.
Mr Martin also said Dr Holohan told him that the peak of the Omicron wave may be another two weeks away.
He said: “Over 1,000 in hospital, thankfully the conversion in ICU is not at the same level so far as it would have been last year or in different waves.
“We do need a bit more time to wait to see to be sure and certain of that.
“We’re still not at the peak of this wave, it is still on an upward trajectory but so far I think the country is managing this.
“We need to keep at this and I would urge people in that context then to get the booster vaccine.”
He said 63% of people have received their booster jab and that it would be closer to 70% but people who have been recently infected can’t get the third shot.
