The Omicron variant will likely be the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Ireland by next week, Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said, according to Reuters.

The variant now accounts for 14 per cent of Ireland's Covid-19 cases compared to just one per cent a week ago.

Varadkar told the Newstalk Radio station that he expected the country's health chiefs to recommend a tightening of Covid-19 restrictions on Thursday around the managing of close contacts, decreasing social mixing and on international travel.

The government also plans to increase the number of booster doses administered to 1.75 million by Christmas and possibly 2m by year-end, Varadkar said, up from a previous target of 1.5m.