Taoiseach Micheal Martin has warned party colleagues that “difficult decisions” will have to be taken ahead of Level Five restrictions lifting on December 1.
Mr Martin told a parliamentary party meeting that there will be a Covid-19 debate in the Dáil next week to discuss the exit strategy out of lockdown.
A source said that, according to Mr Martin, the plan to exit Level Five is going ahead as people needed to have a “wholesome Christmas.”
However, it’s understood he said the hospitality sector could be a problem.
But a party source said Mr Martin appeared to agree that there should be no differentiation between premises that serve food.
Sources said that TDs Marc McSharry and Barry Cowen said the hospitality and pubs sector should be allowed to reopen and that they needed “adequate notice” so they could prepare.
The source added: “He did not rule anything out about pubs.”
The news comes hours after 379 new Covid-19 cases were announced, along with 12 further deaths.
Of those included in the latest number of infections, 174 were men and 203 were women.
The median age was 36, while 64% of new cases were recorded in people under the age of 45.
As of 2pm, 282 patients are in hospital battling the virus, while 33 are fighting for their lives in intensive care.
There were 22 admissions to hospitals nationwide in the past 24 hours.
