The wearing of face coverings is likely to be made compulsory in shops and other indoor settings, following a meeting of Cabinet this evening.
Ministers will discuss a proposal to extend the regulation requiring face coverings on public transport, which came into effect on Monday.
That regulation carries penalties of up to €2,500 or six months imprisonment for people who fail to comply. The Cabinet is also expected to make a decision on whether Covid-19 restrictions can be eased further in Phase 4 next week.
This could include the reopening of pubs and casinos, however concerns have been raised about a rising number of new cases of the virus - particularity in young people - as the country reopens.