A new bill has been published proposing to regulate e-cigarettes.

Senators Averil Power and John Crown want to see a ban on the sale of the products to under-18s, an end to advertising and the consumption of e-cigarettes in public places and places of work.

It will also include the prohibition of sponsorship by manufacturers and importers of electronic-cigarettes and the use of them in vehicles where persons under 18 years of age are present.

The bill also provides for standardised packaging of e-cigarettes and the fitting of child safety caps on liquid nicotine bottles.

It would require the Health Service Executive (HSE) to monitor available scientific data "to determine what the extent of these risks are, and where these risks are established, empower the minister to draw up regulations to ensure the well-being of users", Senator Crown said.

Critics of the proposal say it is heavy-handed - considering many people use e-cigarettes to quit smoking.

Both Senators say they are far from harmless:

It comes almost two months after the Department of Health launched a public consultation on laws relating to the sale of tobacco and non-medicinal nicotine delivery systems, including e-cigarettes.

The drafting of this legislation was approved by the government last June.

The measures are in keeping with recommendations contained in Ireland's policy on tobacco control - Tobacco Free Ireland.

They include the introduction of a licensing system for tobacco products and e-cigarettes, and the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products from self-service vending machines.

The law will also ban the sale of tobacco products by those aged under 18 and the sale of e-cigarettes to, and by, under 18-year-olds.