The Government is remaining tight-lipped on when Ireland's "wet pubs" will be allowed open again.
There has been a huge drive from publicans to allow pubs without food open this month with Government Ministers saying they hope to have a plan in place soon.
The next decision on reopening is expected to be made on September 13 when publicans are hopeful of a concrete date.
The Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Minister for Health have all discussed the possibilities of reopening pubs in the last day - here's what they had to say;
Tanasite Leo Varadkar
Speaking on Friday afternoon, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said he cannot give a concrete date but hopes to open pubs soon.
Mr Varadkar said: "It is about getting the balance right between public health and also allowing people to get on with their lives and livelihoods and that's what living with the virus entails.
"We are working with NPHET and with the Department of Health on putting in place guidelines that will allow that to be possible but we always need to bear in mind of course the behaviour of the disease itself."
He noted that while pubs are open in most other countries they have caused some problems.
The Fine Gael leader also praised the people in the hospitality sector for their work in recent months.
Mr Varadkar added: "I want to recognise that the hospitality industry has done a really good job in keeping us safe and implementing those recommendations and this isn't designed to inconvenience them in any way and I think has been a little bit misinterpreted."
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly today discussed the latest rules which ask pubs and restaurants to keep receipts for 28 days.
He told RTE2fm: 'This is about protecting the people working in the restaurant industry. All it says is the receipts they already keep – keep them.
"They already keep these receipts. This is about making sure that there aren’t rogue traders and that’s it."
The Fianna Fail Minister did not shed any further light on a potential pub opening date.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin
Speaking on Thursday the Taoiseach emphasised he wants to open pubs but nothing is set in stone yet.
Mr Martin said: "As a government we do want to open up other sectors of the economy that remain closed including pubs.
“And at the moment guidance is being worked on..in relation to conditions that would apply in the event of pubs reopening so that guidance is being worked on and will issue.
“But as always we will be guided by public health advice.
“The guidance will involve conditions..to protect lives and people’s health.”
