The government will wait until next week to decide if the next stage of lifting restrictions can go ahead on July 5th.
Indoor service in bars and restaurants is due to resume from then, along with increased wedding attendance numbers.
But there are growing concerns that could be delayed, due to the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19.
The Delta strain is now responsible for at least one in five new cases being reported here.
The government has already stated that any decisions in relation to the re-opening of the economy are being constantly monitored.
Minister of State at the Department of Health, Frank Feighan says that the Delta strain is cause for concern for health officials and the government
So the Government is facing a familiar challenge balancing the tasks of reopening the economy while at the same time ensuring that the number of Covid-19 cases remains as low as possible. This time round however the delta variant will add to the severity of the challenge.
Minister of State at the Department Frank Feighan says the National Public Health Emergency Team will brief the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly a week from tomorrow:
