With Cabinet set to meet this week ahead of the Taoiseach's latest address to the nation, there's optimism that a more detailed plan will be announced as Ireland leaves Level 5 restrictions.
While the country has begun to ease up some of the lockdown measures, certain sectors have been quite vocal about the need to do more with the hospitality sector, publicans, cinema owners, aviation industries, music venues/festivals, and the retail industry all calling for more clarity.
On this note, here's what's likely to be on the agenda...
What the Taoiseach said in his last address to the nation
Aside from outlining the lockdown measures that would be eased in April and early May, the Taoiseach also gave an indication about what issues will be addressed, mainly hospitality and retail.
He said: "Towards the end of April, we will examine the situation and in the month of May, we will look at a phased reopening of non-essential retail, personal services, all non-contact sports training, religious services, museums, galleries and libraries, and additional freedoms for those who are fully vaccinated.
"Towards the end of May, and depending on progress, we will look at the reopening of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses in the month of June.
"July and August will see more intensive vaccination and the vast majority of the population will have significant protection against the virus allowing for significant opportunities to re-open even further."
The Taoiseach then added: "This summer, our businesses and our public services will safely reopen. We will finally be meeting and enjoying the company of friends and family once again. We will be able to travel within and enjoy our beautiful country again. Jobs and livelihoods will be restored. "
From that speech, it appears that the key points that will be addressed are retail, hospitality (hotels, B&Bs etc), and domestic travel.
Hairdressers
The recommencement of personal services on a staggered basis is one of the items that's under consideration from May 4. However, Tànaiste Leo Varadkar said that it's unlikely to be a situation that everything (barbers, hairdressers, nail salons) all open on May 4, with a staggered reopening being favoured.
He said: "I'm not saying the fourth of May (for a precise date of reopening) - that's unlikely - but over the course of the month of May, there will be a phased reopening of personal services including hairdressers and barbers."
However, it's expected that specific dates need to be provided for those in the personal services industry and clear guidance in terms of capacity and other new health measures that may be introduced.
Travel - domestic and foreign
Given the emphasis on reopening Ireland's hospitality sector - as outlined in Martin's previous speech - it's likely that travel restrictions could be lifted to allow Irish people to travel more freely around the country.
While the introduction of the 20km travel distance is still relatively new, the freedom to travel greater distances and across multiple county borders would be preferable.
After all, the Taoiseach did say: "We will be able to travel within and enjoy our beautiful country again."
In terms of trips abroad, Micheál Martin said the current advice on international travel will be re-examined in July, when the numbers of people who have received the vaccine are expected to be greater in Ireland and Europe.
Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, the Taoiseach said the travel advice will change and he did not believe Ireland can be "sealed off forever".
However, it's unlikely that any international travel for leisure during the early months of summer will be encouraged.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said May will be about the "loosening" of Covid-19 restrictions.
"Everybody wants to get to a point where we have incremental opening-up which includes inter-county travel at some point in the next number of months as well as hotels, restaurants, pubs, and so on.
"Realistically I think the month of May is going to be focused on the loosening of restrictions along the lines that I’ve just outlined and we, I hope, will be able to give clear signals based on what’s possible in June, July and into August, so businesses can start planning for that."
Outdoor meetings
With the Taoiseach and Minister Harris both stating that any planning around the next few weeks will revolve around an 'outdoor summer,' it's likely that the outdoors will see the main changes.
Currently you can meet one other household outside but not in your garden or theirs. However, with more people being vaccinated, the likelihood is that restrictions on gatherings will be eased.
If two weeks have passed since you got your second dose of the vaccine, you can meet with other fully vaccinated people from another household indoors without wearing masks or staying two metres apart. If you have received the second dose, you have to wait two weeks until you can meet other fully vaccinated people indoors.
The government has already shown leniency toward those that are vaccinated, here's hoping it continues.
Elsewhere, Minister Harris' recent remarks on the topic of outdoor gatherings were encouraging.
He said: “I do think the evidence around outdoor activities, and how they can be done safely, perhaps gives hope that we can do a little bit more in the outdoor space. I think there might be the potential to do a bit more in May.
“For example at the moment you can meet up outdoor with one household, is there a possibility you can do more in relation to that? Things like outdoor dining and the likes, I am not in a position to give a definitive view on, but I think we need to start answering those questions next week."
Pubs
Given the beloved status of the pub in Irish society, quite a lot of opinions have been expressed on this issue but two hold the most weight.
Speaking on Sunday to RTE's The Week In Politics, the Taoiseach said the Government will continue to follow the science and that the "outdoor theme is critical" for the next few weeks.
That's because being outdoors is less likely to see the virus spread than being indoor.
The Fianna Fàil leader was then asked about the hospitality sector opening back up and said: "What I said at the outset is, anything we open now, we want to keep open.
"We want to end (these) start-stop (closures). Many people in different sectors have said that to us. I think we've got to do this in a proper way.
"I think April has been good - we're ahead of targets, the strategy is working in terms of controlling the virus and that needs to be acknowledged and I think that's important because that will give people confidence in terms of the next phase, now, when the areas I said we would examine - outdoor sports, non-essential retail, hairdressing and so on - we said we'd examine that.
"We're going to examine that for May and hopefully we'll be able to do something on that. Towards the end of May, and depending on progress, we will look at the reopening of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses in the month of June.
Earlier this week, a senior Government source told the Irish Mirror : “June 10th is the date that has been mentioned for hotels (reopening).
“The vaccination programme has been working and it is the plan to continue to progress the reopening of our society.
When asked if this included plans for hotels, pubs and restaurants, the source added: “Yes, hospitality included.”
However, the reopening of hotels, which would include bar and restaurant service for guests, could pose problems for the Government if other pubs and restaurants remain closed.
When asked about the June 10th date, another source said: “That would be the optimistic date some are looking at, yes, but depends how things go.”
A further source said waiting until after the Bank Holiday weekend (June 5-7) would “be wise” given that Covid-19 case numbers seem to have stalled in recent days.
Regular indoor dining will most likely not be reopening in June in these outlets, which could lead many to protest against the favouritism being shown to the hotel industry.
Elsewhere, it is expected that outdoor dining will return sometime between the end of May and the middle of June.
In a nutshell, it's looking like you might be able to get a pint but if it happens, it's going to be outdoors and all likelihood is that it won't be served in a traditional 'drinks only' pub.
Retail
The phased return of non-essential retail commencing with click and collect and outdoor retail (garden centres/nurseries) is being considered to recommence on May 4.
At present, all indications suggest that this plan will remain unchanged.
The Deputy Chair of Retail Excellence, Jean McCabe, recently said the return of click and collect would be a big boost.
"For a lot of small businesses that aren't online. Click and collect is actually a lifeline for them because it enables them to reach their customers. I think it's really important that those businesses get the opportunity to sell some of that ageing stock because, for a lot of our fashion retailers, they're sitting on a huge volume of stock, not knowing when we're going to open and wondering if the season has passed and they missed their window," she said.
What else will be covered?
In terms of the other main areas that will be addressed, expect to hear updates on the following; social and family gatherings, weddings, organised indoor and outdoor gatherings, religious services, transport, outdoor playgrounds, play areas and parks, rules for visiting long-term residential care facilities (nursing and care homes), and new regulations when it comes to meeting with over 70s and those at increased risk of severe illness.
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