Ireland will press ahead with plans to reopen all retail stores, personal services and non-residential construction in May with hotels, restaurants and bars to follow sooner than expected in early June, said Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.

Coveney said the plan to be signed off later by ministers would permit hotels to open their doors again on June 2 with restaurants and pubs — not mentioned a month ago — allowed to serve guests outdoors from June 7.

"We will I hope be able to manage all of that change in a way that keeps a lid on the spread of this virus but at the same time provides for a much more hopeful and positive summer than perhaps many people were expecting even in the last few weeks," Coveney told national broadcaster RTE.