Ireland plans to adopt a Covid-19 certificate to help citizens move more freely across the European Union from mid-July.
But the country is not in a position "just yet" to allow unencumbered travel from neighbouring Britain, Tanaiste Leo Varakdar said on Friday.
He told RTE: "The advice that we have (from health officials), and we're accepting this advice, is that there are real concerns about the Indian variant and for that reason, we're not in a position to restore the common travel area (with Britain) just yet.
"It's now the dominant variant in Britain - over 50% of cases appear to be this B1617 variant.
"That's something we're concerned about, and, for that reason, we're not in a position to restore the Common Travel Area just yet."
He said there would continue to be restrictions for arrivals from Britain, including requirements to have a vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test, when Ireland introduces the so-called EU "green certificate".
A date for international travel will also be revealed by Taoiseach Micheal Martin later on Friday, although the Tanaiste confirmed Ireland is "not going to be the first country in the EU to open up international travel".
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Mr Varadkar added: "It is something we do need to bear in mind in relation to international travel...don't want to repeat what happened in December.
"It won't be international travel as you knew it, requirements around vaccines and testing, etc."
The Cabinet is set to meet on Friday afternoon with an announcement expected at around 6pm by Mr Martin at Government buildings.
The Tanaiste has confirmed that Ireland will see a "major set of reopenings" in early July, pending Cabinet approval.
Mr Varadkar said the gap between outdoor and indoor dining will only be a matter of weeks.
And on Friday evening the Government is going to reveal plans for big changes at the start of both July and August.
The Tanaiste said: "The gap between indoor dining and outdoor dining is not going to be big, it's only going to be a matter of a few weeks, so outdoor dining will be allowed first on June 7 and then we will agree a date in early July for the return for indoor.
"What I can say to you is that in the first week of July there will be a major set of reopenings, mostly linked to indoor activities...it's going to be an outdoor summer but not outdoor only.
"And then in the first week of August a further easing of restrictions but these are Cabinet decision yet to be made."
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