Gardaí be able to inspect house gatherings and close pubs and restaurants that breach guidelines.
New Garda powers to police pubs, restaurants and house parties are being drawn up by government and the Attorney General.
The new powers will see Gardaí be able to inspect house gatherings and to close pubs and restaurants that breach any of the guidelines.
It's part of new restrictions which will see the elderly asked to limit their contact with others, and people urged to keep indoor social visits to no more than 6 people from 3 households.
People are also being asked to avoid public transport, while opening times for restaurants and pubs serving food have been extended by half an hour to 11:30.
CEO of the Restaurants Association, Adrian Cummins, says they lobbied hard for the later closing time.
''They (patrons) needed to be off the premises by 11 O'Clock, so on a Friday and Saturday everyone was thinking 'well there's another hour here, where will we go to someone's house or apartment for a nightcap?'''
''The nightcap will now be in the restaurant, rather than the house party.
''And that's what we put forward to government and they accepted it.''
