Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said there will be "flexibilities" around New Year’s Eve adding that people should be trusted.
Mr Martin was asked how pubs and bars would handle New Year's Eve when current restrictions mean all licensed premises have to have customers off their properties by midnight.
Speaking in Brussels, he said: "The situation is challenging with Omicron and I fully appreciate the frustration people are experiencing because of this long pandemic but people are using their common sense and taking precaution, and flexibility in people's behaviour is going to be there.
"I think being overly prescriptive is not the way forward here and we must trust people as well about how they go about their daily lives.
"Obviously public health advice will come, there will be a meeting of NPHET tomorrow evening and I would prefer to wait for that and government's response to that before getting into specifics, but suffice to say, all, including public health officials, realise the festive season is upon us, an important part of the year where families get together and we recognise the obvious human factors involved and flexibilities will apply."
Mr Martin was speaking in Brussels following Tanaiste Leo Varadkar stating NPHET are expected to recommend new measures to the Government after they meet on Thursday.
But what may be a relief for many people hoping to travel home for Christmas, Mr Martin said “one doesn’t see specific travel measures in respect of Omicron.”
He said the emphasis will be placed on testing and the current pre-arrival test rule will remain in place if people want to enter the State.
He said: “We’re going to emphasise the importance of testing before you travel, tests before you engage in social activity... all designed to protect your loved ones, yourself and also participate that bit better in activities.
“One doesn’t see specific travel measures in respect of Omicron but I do think the key message has to be everywhere across Europe to redouble efforts, increase vaccination and particularly in relation to the booster vaccine without question, it gives significant additional protection to people from Omicron and reduce the prospect of serious illness..”
The Taoiseach also said that Minister Stephen Donnelly will announce the revised plan for the HSE which will represent a “stepchange” again in terms of the booster programme.
He said this will ramp up the booster programme and will utilise GPs, pharmacies and extending hours for additional vaccination centres.
Mr Martin said public health advice now is that “travel is no longer the primary tool in preventing spread although testing is still very important.”
He said there will be an emphasis on more testing and then “combining that then with the booster, they will be key pillars.”
He said: “Hospitals are down again today.
“The likelihood [is] they’ll go down for the next week and ICUs but now Omicron has arrived and the clear public health advice is it will spread more rapidly..
“The data is not there yet on how severe the impact will be on health..
“The view is that we’re so well vaccinated, that will give us protection as a country and give our people protection.”
