The hospitality sector is reeling after NPHET recommended bars and restaurants close at 5pm over the Christmas period.
The proposal is part of an overall plan to combat a surge in the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan contacted Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last night.
Nphet also recommended attendances at outdoor events be limited to 50pc or 5,000 attendees.
The public health team has also advised that indoor theatres, cinemas, entertainment, cultural and sporting events should also be subject to a 5pm curfew and attendance limited to 50pc.
The recommendation that attendance at outdoor entertainment and sports events should be limited to 50pc or 5,000 attendees should come into effect from next Monday, Nphet has advised.
The recommendation to significantly curtail opening times for hospitality came as a shock to the sector.
Government ministers were not anticipating such harsh restrictions.
The Restaurants’ Association of Ireland described the 5pm curfew as an “effective closure order” on hospitality.
“A proposal for a 5pm closure of hospitality is effectively a lockdown of the sector,” its chief executive Adrian Cummins said.
