The Health Minister says any wearing of facemasks will be advisory and not mandatory.
The National Public Health Emergency Team is meeting to consider what advice to give to the public surrounding their use.
It’s believed people will be asked to wear them, where social distancing isn’t possible, but they won’t have to.
Simon Harris says people will be advised on what they should do.
"What's likely is, as we begin to reopen our country over the coming weeks and months it's likely that we will advise people that in certain settings that they should cover their faces, and we'll give guidance as to how to appropriately do that.
"We're not talking about making it mandatory, or making it the law of the land."
