Three different households will be able to meet over Christmas, the Taoiseach has confirmed.
Micheal Martin addressed the nation tonight where he outlined the Government's Covid plan for the festive season.
The new measures, which could be dubbed as 'Level 3-', will see a ban on travelling outside your own county lift from December 18.
This is in order to let loved-ones reunite for the holiday period, but a strict travel ban will return on January 6.
The news comes after crunch Government talks with the National Public Health Emergency Team in recent days.
Dr Tony Holohan and other medical experts wanted to see pubs and restaurants remain closed in December, something which the Cabinet has refused.
Instead, bars that serve food and restaurants can reopen from next Friday.
But it comes as a major blow to wet pubs, who have again been left out. They can only operate a take-away service.
Ireland will return to a full-scale Level Three on January 6.
