PUBS in Ireland, including 'wet' pubs, could be open in time for Christmas if all things go to plan.
The Government is formalising their strategy for leaving Level Five restrictions - which are due to end on December 1.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that while Ireland will likely revert back to Level Three to begin with, the plan ultimately will be to get the country down to Level Two before Christmas.
At Level Two, pubs and restaurants are allowed to open, but must have restrictive measures in place, like social distancing systems and capacity limits.
Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Mr Martin said the country should be allowed to enjoy a "reasonable Christmas," as his fellow Fianna Fáil TDs insisted that the Irish people had "sacrificed enough" during this pandemic.
Martin went on to say that while the plan was for the country to move to Level Three, if a focus on adhering to public health guidance is maintained, it will allow the Government maximum flexibility to reopen society further down the line.
"I did say on the record of the House that I wanted to get back to Level Three - that was a target for December 1," he said.
"The data on that will inform whether we might look at certain sectors as well and might moderate that."
If the country remained at Level Three up until Christmas, pubs would only be allowed to offer takeaway and delivery services, as well as outdoor dining in some places, which wouldn't be ideal in the depths of winter.
