Taoiseach Micheál Martin has indicated all remaining Covid-19 restrictions will be gone in October.
When asked on Friday evening if the roadmap that he is due to announce on Tuesday will stretch into November or December, Mr Martin said: “No.
“We haven’t finalised, and I have to be fair to my colleagues, the timelines have to generally be agreed and discussed.
“We are certainly looking close to 90% vaccinated the week commencing the 6th [September] so that gives you some indication.”
However, measures such as mask wearing and social distancing are expected to be recommended for some time.
Mr Martin also confirmed “September will be significant” in terms of restrictions easing such as a return to work, live entertainment, theatres, indoor sport and activities.
He said the reopening of nightclubs still needs to be “deliberated” indicating it could be one of the last sectors of society to reopen but said the industry will get a timeline next Tuesday.
He said the vaccine passes were never going to be used for outdoor events but he believed that there needs to be an increase in the number of people allowed to attend outdoor events.
He said: “We do need to increase the outdoor limits in terms of the outdoor events.
“We do need to take early steps in terms of indoor activities for vaccinated people, all of that has to be fine-tuned and resolved on Monday.
“There is a whole range of areas there from indoor activities in terms of sport, live entertainment, return to work and so forth.
“We can certainly see, yes, a lifting of restrictions in some areas in terms of entertainment and theatre and the arts in September.
“The workplace has been saying to us that they would like a timeline that they can begin a return to work.
“In any event it will be a phased return to work..but we will be giving that timeline.”
The Taoiseach said that the vaccine task force indicated optimal vaccination could be achieved in the week of September 6.
Speaking to reporters at Government Buildings, he said: “We would appeal to people particularly in the 16-29 age cohort to please get vaccinated because you will help to protect broader society, you will help us to get people back to work in certain areas and get society open.
“Government wants to reopen society but we want to do it in a safe way...and we believe we can do that.”
