The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, has said she wants nightclubs to reopen on 22 October.
Speaking at her departmental budget briefing this afternoon, she also said it is unlikely that antigen testing will be used at that stage as the expert advisory group's report on such tests has not yet been received.
Ms Martin was asked about reports that senior officials were concerned about rising Covid numbers. She said she understood there was concern around ICU figures and hospitalisations but that as it stands, "we are still heading for reopening on 22 October".
The minister said the National Public Health Emergency Team will meet next week and the Government will then meet on foot of that.