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The hospitality sector is expected to be told to close from December 30th.
The Government is likely to accept NPHET advice to close restaurants and pubs that serve food.
Visits to homes will also be restricted to one other household from the 30th.
However, it is expected people will be allowed to travel between counties until January 6th as originally planned.
Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to make a final decision on the new restrictions.
It was revealed yesterday that NPHET was recommending that gastropubs and restaurants close after Christmas from December 28th.
Representatives from the hospitality trade said the news of a further lockdown was a shock for employees and a slap in the face for those in the industry.
‘Scapegoated’ hospitality sector up in arms over shutdown threat
Tourism representatives who met with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar this week, say they were given no indication that there would be another lockdown before the new year.
Publicans, restaurant owners, and hoteliers have reacted angrily to the Government s announcement. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
Fri, 18 Dec, 2020 - 19:21
Geoff Percival and Nicole Glennon
Restaurants, pubs, and hotels have reacted angrily to the likelihood of an earlier-than-expected fresh shutdown of business before the end of the year.
The news that hospitality businesses will now probably be forced to close their doors between Christmas and New Year s Eve earlier than the January shutdown that many had been expecting has come “out of the blue” and sent “shockwaves” through the industry, according to the Restaurants Association of Ireland.
â I know not just for the hospitality sector in particular, but also for people who had planned the season, who are looking forward to seeing people over the New Year and that may not now be possible,â he said.
âUnless the numbers stabilise over the next number of days, then we will have to bring forward from the 6th of January the point at which we need to reimpose restrictions.â
He added: âI know thatâs a really hard thing to hear and a really difficult decision for people to take but if we donât do that and wait until January 6th, the restrictions we reimpose might have to be tougher and might have to go on for longer and we donât want that.â
Coronavirus Ireland: Food pubs and restaurants to shut again from New Year s Eve
The Government will also cut the number of households that can visit another to one from that date (Image: Karol Serewis/Gallo Images Poland/Getty Images)
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The Restaurants Association of Ireland is seeking an urgent meeting with the Government over proposals to close the hospitality sector after Christmas.
The Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to consider the move after NPHET advised that restaurants and pubs serving food should be shut before New Year s Eve.
The Government is expected to choose December 30th as the closure date while at the same time restricting home visits to one other household.
However, travel between counties will likely be allowed to continue until January 6th.
The CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland said the group is calling for an urgent meeting with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to discuss the impact of a third national hospitality industry lockdown .