The Health Minister James Reilly is set to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s. In a statement, the Department of Health says "Minister Reilly intends to regulate the e-cigarette market. This will include banning their sale to under-18s".
Manufacturers say that e-cigarettes can assist smokers kick the habit of smoking tobacco cigarettes.
But the Department says they contain Nicotine, which is a highly addictive and dangerous drug.
Minister Reilly is currently reviewing the evidence on the potential and benefits of e-cigarettes, before deciding the best approach to their wider regulation.
Last year Minister Reilly said he wants Ireland to become completely tobacco free by 2025. He said Ministers are determined to stamp out smoking in Ireland for good.
He is planning to extend the existing workplace smoking ban, to include the outlawing of lighting up in public areas like parks and beaches.
The Cabinet has already approved the introduction of "plain pack" cigarettes here. Ireland will become the second country in the world to introduce the measure after Australia did so last year.
Mr. Reilly has said the new packs will save lives.
Last June, EU Health Ministers agreed to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes across the union. The Council agreed on a range of measures aimed at reducing the number of people taking up smoking.
The agreement included new rules on how tobacco products should be labelled, packaged and manufactured. It also targets product 'attractiveness', with young people in mind.
