Professor Niamh Hourigan, Sociologist at Mary Immaculate College, said it will be significantly more difficult to get buy-in from the public during the next phase of strict restrictions.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Prof Hourigan said that fear was a significant driver of behaviour in April and encouraged people to adhere to the rules, along with a form of "Covid shaming" in person and online.

She said the restrictions were also a novelty the first time round and people "didn't really know what they were getting into".

She added the change in seasons and the shorter days must be acknowedged and how these may potentially contribute to more transgressions this time round.

Prof Hourigan said that trust in gardaí held quite well the first time around, but it will be much more challenging this time and it could take just one case of a fine being unjustly imposed to undermine the legitimacy of the system.