Pubs across Ireland are likely to return to normal trading hours from Saturday, the Irish Mirror understands.
But the Government is working to see if regulations enforcing the 8pm could be lifted sooner.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar did not completely rule out pubs staying open past 8pm on Friday night.
Cabinet Ministers are also considering opening nightclubs with the use of Covid passes from this weekend.
However, the details have to be finalised by Cabinet at 3pm and Coalition leaders are still considering the plan to ease out restrictions.
Sources have indicated that social distancing rules could also be dropped this weekend as hospitality reopens fully.
A major lifting of restrictions on a phased approach will be announced by Mr Martin at 6pm.
But Covid rules on the hospitality industry including the 8pm curfew will be the first to go.
Speaking to reporters before Cabinet, Mr Varadkar said if there is no public health rationale to keep restrictions in place, then there is no political will to do so.
It’s also likely that sports events planned for this weekend could be permitted to operate at full capacity.
The Tanáiste said that NPHET advised to lift restrictions on a phased approach and said the details of how to proceed and the timings would be discussed and decided on Friday.
He said: “Certainly I think the view across Government is that if there’s no longer a public health rationale for any particular restriction well then there’s no political rationale for it either.
“But there are things that need to be worked out.
“To make something that’s currently illegal, legal can require a ministerial order to be rescinded, sometimes requires primary legislation to be repealed.
“We need to do a bit of work today on the timing.”
On Thursday night NPHET approved the return to normal opening hours for hospitality and the end of the use of the digital Covid pass for pubs and restaurants.
Mr Varadkar added: “It’s been a very long two years.
“It’s certainly not over yet but we’re in a much better place now than we were previously and that is really down to a world-beating vaccine programme.”
He thanked the Irish people “for agreeing to be vaccinated” as this has “made a huge difference and has put us in a better position than a lot of other countries that are still struggling.
