Representatives of Ireland's cinema industry have written to the Taoiseach to ask him for a firm date for the reopening of big screens.
Mark Anderson, of the Omniplex group, said that if cinemas had any chance of surviving they, and their 2,000 strong workforce, need a reopening date without delay.
Mr Anderson said cinemas in Northern Ireland will be opening again this Monday, 24 May.
He said it was possible that thousands of film fans will cross the border to attend cinemas in the North, an "unnecessary movement of people and a devastating blow to cinemas in border towns".
He told Taoiseach Micheál Martin: "Our industry is at breaking point and if we are to have any chance of surviving and recovering, we need a re-opening date for the Republic of Ireland without delay.
"Almost 80% of EU and UK countries have given cinemas specific re-opening dates, leaving Ireland (Europe's biggest consumer of cinema experiences) an outlier."
Mr Anderson said there was compelling evidence from global sources identifying cinema as a safe indoor activity.
"To date, there is still no evidence of Covid-19 transmission in any cinema setting, worldwide. Surely the time has come to reopen our cinemas," he stated in the letter to Micheál Martin.
"Cinemas continue to hemorrhage highly skilled management and teams to other industries.
"How can we retain talent and attract new workers when, without a reopening date, we cannot provide basic job security and guarantee work commencement?"
Mr Anderson concluded: "We urge you to act without delay Taoiseach so that we can avoid catastrophic damage to our industry and our communities."
