Nightclubs will have to close from December 7th to January 9th, while bars and restaurants must revert to rules in existence prior to October 22nd.
That means table service only,1 metre between tables and a maximum of six adults per table.
However closing time will remain at midnight.
There will be a maximum of 50 per cent capacity at entertainment, cultural, community and sporting events indoors, which must be fully seated.
Announcing the measures, Taoiseach Micheál Martin says if the spread of the omicron variant takes hold, there is the potential for a serious crisis.
He’s called on people to pull together to face the challenge ahead.
Other measures announced this evening, include that gatherings in homes will be restricted to four households.
A Covid Pass will be required for gyms and leisure centres as well as hotel bars and restaurants.
The Pandemic Unemployment Payment will reopen next week to applicants who lose their jobs as a result of these restrictions.
Meanwhile, Commercial Rates Waiver for businesses in the hospitality and live entertainment sector has been confirmed for the first quarter of 2022.
The Housing Minister’s announced an extension to the current targeted commercial rates waiver for the first three months of 2022.
Darragh O’Brien says this waiver will specifically target businesses in the hospitality and entertainment sector who are impacted by continued restrictions.
The commercial rates waver amounts to 62.3 million euro.
The total cost of commercial rates waiver arrangements, from March 2020 to date, is now almost €1.5 billion euro.
