The government wants the country to stay at level 3 restrictions for as long as possible.
That's according to the Tanaiste.
It comes as restrictions level 5 restrictions ease from tomorrow with many retail outlets opening for the first time in 6 weeks.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar admitted that the easing of restrictions will cause more cases.
"We do know that as people mix more and congregate more the likelihood is that the number of cases will start to increase again."
While Mr Varadkar wants to stay in level 3 "as long as we can" he said future decisions will hinge on how people act over the coming weeks.
"All of that will depend on how we all behave in the next couple of weeks," he said.
Department Of An Taoiseach Remind Public To Act Responsibly Over Christmas
Meanwhile, he government's covid-19 vaccination taskforce is meeting to discuss the various vaccines currently in development.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says a vaccination programme could be in place early next year.
A quick update following the Government's decision today. pic.twitter.com/CxnPELXshv
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) November 27, 2020
Elizabeth Canavan, Assistant Secretary General at the Department of An Taoiseach, spoke this afternoon.
She warned that a "greater onus is on all of us" to act responsibly as restrictions ease.
"It will take some time for [vaccines] to be rolled out to the extent that we can resume our old normality."
She echoed the Tanaiste's stance, saying "we would like to spend that time at as low a level of restrictions as possible."
