Green Party leader Eamon Ryan thinks the Government will wait two or three weeks before deciding whether the country needs increased COVID-19 restrictions.
It comes after the Government rejected NPHET's advice to move to level five restrictions for the entire country.
Cabinet agreed to place the country under level three restrictions instead, with the measures set to remain in place for three weeks.
However, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has warned he's more concerned about the virus now than he was when NPHET recommended the national move to level five on Sunday.
Public health officials are meeting again today to further consider the situation around the country.
Minister Ryan said that even if NPHET recommends escalating he measures, Government should wait and see if the current restrictions work.
He said: "It takes two or three weeks to see what the effect of a level is - there's a lag.
"The numbers we're seeing today are a factor of what happened two weeks ago, by and large.
"Let's see if the collective effort of our people - and there is huge collective effort - will have an effect in two or three weeks' time... and it's only after that that you'd make the call.
"If we have to adjust, we will... but I'd like to see us implement what's been put in place first and foremost".
Minister Ryan said nobody is disagreeing with the concerns being raised by NPHET, as the situation is serious.
However, he stressed the Government has to consider a range of factors when making a decision.
He admits there is a risk that there could be a longer lockdown due to going to level three first - but that people's psychological, mental and economic health also need to be considered.
