''You'd be more confident about seeing the pubs in rural Ireland open on the 21st''.
The Tanaiste says pubs in Dublin may not open alongside pubs in rural Ireland.
Pubs were told yesterday they could reopen on September 21st after being closed for six months.
However an increase in cases in Dublin and Limerick is causing concern.
It's possible a restriction on visiting homes in the two counties could be introduced.
Leo Varadkar says the plan is to treat all pubs the same regardless of whether they serve food.
''Based on the numbers you'd be more confident about seeing the pubs in rural Ireland open on the 21st of September, rather than in Dublin,'' he said.
307 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed yesterday, 182 of which were in Dublin while 19 were in Limerick.
It's led to suggestions from the Tanaiste that restrictions on home visits in the two counties is an option that will have to be considered.
Which would be similar to a restriction on visiting the homes of family and friends that was recently introduced in Glasgow.
''They took a decision, rather than closing schools again or closing childcare or businesses again that they would go really hard at gatherings within the home'', Mr Varadkar said.
''And that is an option that I think we'll have to consider if the numbers keep going in the right direction.
''But what I don't know and what I'd like to know from the experts is, has that been effective in Glasgow''.
