Close contact rules could be relaxed as early as this week with Cabinet set to sign off on the changes this morning.

Ministers will also consider a new bill establishing a regulator for social media companies.

On The Hard Shoulder last night, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly outlined the latest recommendations for close contacts.

Under the plan, put forward by the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, close contacts who are asymptomatic and have received their booster will no longer have to restrict movements.

The same will be true for asymptomatic close contacts who tested positive in the past three months.

Both cohorts will be expected to take regular antigen tests and wear higher grade masks for a period after learning they were close contacts.

Close contacts who have yet to be boosted and have not recently recovered will face seven days of isolation.

The isolation period for those who test positive is also to be set for everyone at seven days – regardless of their booster status.

Meanwhile, people in certain age groups will no longer need to sit a PCR test to confirm a positive antigen test.

Separately, Minister Catherine Martin will publish the text of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill which will establish an Online Safety Commissioner.

The new watchdog will be tasked with regulating harmful content online and will be allowed to fine non-compliant companies up to €20m or 10% of turnover.

This would cover breaches relating to criminal material, serious cyber-bullying and content promoting self-harm, suicide and eating disorders.

The Commissioner will also take over the regulation of TV and radio stations as well as online streaming platforms like Netflix.

Additional reporting Michael Staines and Jack Quann.