The Waste Reduction Bill banning single-use coffee cups has passed the second stage in the Dáil.
But the Environment Minister Denis Naughten has asked his colleagues to freeze the plans put forward by the Labour Party and the Greens.
It would also introduce a deposit refund scheme on plastic bottles and cans.
A vote on whether to do so is due on Thursday.
Minister Naughten says the bill could be massively expensive to set up.
"A study investigating the possible introduction in the UK puts a figure of €790m a year on it - these are enormous amounts.
"I believe before we spend even a fraction of this on its introduction, we need to ascertain what the benefits would be".