Stephen Donnelly has said some restrictions like the dreaded 8pm pubs closing time could be gone from next week.
And Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has picked out March 31 as a day when nearly all curbs could be lifted in Ireland.
And in a potential boon for sports fans, Mr Donnelly hinted we could soon have full houses again as he said he would love to hear “the Lansdowne roar” at the Aviva Stadium again soon.
The Health Minister said he bumped into Ireland rugby star Johnny Sexton last week who he joked tried to coax him into easing the restriction on crowds in time for the Six Nations.
He added the huge success of the State’s vaccination programme is giving the Government leeway to consider easing some restrictions earlier than the scheduled January 30 deadline.
Mr Donnelly said: “The country has coped, the hospitals have coped, the health service has coped. As a nation, we’ve coped and it’s because of that 2.6 million boosters mainly.” He also said the relative mildness of Omicron and “stability” in our hospitals is helping.
There have been a further 11,683 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, with 5,767 positive PCR tests recorded and 5,916 antigen tests.
As of 8am yesterday there were 979 patients in hospital with the disease, down 27 on the previous day, with 93 of those in ICU, down four.
The Cabinet is meeting today with the Covid situation top of the agenda.
NPHET will then meet tomorrow after which they will present their latest recommendations to Mr Donnelly.
There is growing optimism in Government Buildings the top medics will give the green light for the easing of restrictions – as soon as next week. Labour Party leader Alan Kelly said yesterday he wants the 8pm hospitality rule to be lifted this Friday.
He added: “Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland from next week is unwinding the majority of restrictions too, and I think we’re in that position too.”
The Tanaiste gave an upbeat update to the TDs, Senators and MEPs of the Fine Gael parliamentary party at their weekly meeting.
However, the Mr Varadkar added a note of caution when he said we must still be wary of another new variant coming later in the year.
A TD at the meeting said: “He expressed his wish to set March 31 as a deadline to end almost all legal restrictions, while stating we cannot promise anything yet and there is
still the option of extending for another three months until the end of June.
“He also noted we may have to keep some measures another while longer such as mask wearing in crowded places, staying at home when symptomatic and Covid passes for international travel.”
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