The Taoiseach has strongly indicated that Covid restrictions will be eased in the run up to Christmas but everyone “will not be on the lash.”
Micheál Martin said the government is still working on an exit plan for Level Five and it was his target to be at Level Three come December 1.
But said modifications could be made closer to Christmas to allow families and friends to be together.
He said: “I certainly think if we can get the numbers way down.
“Yes, I think we have to look at that specific Christmas period and the week leading up to Christmas and Christmas itself because it is a time for family and for friends, I get that.
“It’s also a time for remembrance as well, so I do get that people will want to meet with family and so on.
“There are certain realities leading up to Christmas that we have to take on board.
“We may look at Level Three as modifications to Level Three and that could apply to worship as well.”
But Mr Martin has yet to decide if pubs will be allowed to reopen and warned “to use the phrase, not everyone will be on the lash for Christmas.”
He said once a decision is made, the hospitality sector will be given enough notice to prepare if they are to reopen.
But said pubs were a challenging sector.
He said: “It is challenging, there is no point in pretending its not a challenging sector because it is.
“And there are real issues there in terms of many people did their best to abide but others didn’t.”
The Taoiseach said “it is possible” that different counties will come out of Level Five at different stages but it was “preferable” that we come out of Level Five nationally.
He said he is concerned about the disease in Donegal.
He told RTE News at One: “We want to come out nationally all together if possible but we will be looking closer, we have another three weeks to go, I want to keep the pressure on.”
Meanwhile, Mr Martin said it was his “guesstimate” that a vaccine will be rolled out for everyone here in the first half of 2021.
