The Minister for Children, Mr Brian Lenihan, will meet telecoms executives today to discuss growing concern about illegal use of the internet in Ireland and the need for better regulation.
The chief executives from all the big internet service providers have been called to the meeting, which will discuss whether the current system of self regulation of internet access by private companies is working effectively.
One internet service provider, Leap Broadband, called on the Government yesterday to begin regulating the internet industry in a similar way that premium rate numbers are regulated.
Mr Rory Ardagh, chief executive of Leap Broadband, said such an important issue, which related to children's safety, should be regulated by a State body such as the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).
Under the present system it is the responsibility of internet companies to make sure that access to illegal and harmful material on the web - such as child pornography - is not hosted in Ireland.
The internet service providers must also "use their best endeavours" to block access to websites that contain harmful or illegal content, according to a code of practice that companies are encouraged to sign up to.
However, a new report by the Internet Advisory Board - the State body set up to oversee the internet industry - due to be published later today is expected to note that some firms have not signed up to the code of practice.
The letter inviting the executives of the internet firms to meet with Mr Lenihan says the discussions will have a particular emphasis on a "need for industry support for the system and operation of the code of practice".
It says developments in the area of new media and new communications technologies, as well as media focus on the responsibilities of the industry in relation to illegal use of the web, make the discussions topical.
Mr Audrey Conlon, chairwoman of the Internet Advisory Board, said a recent audit of its code of practice and the self regulatory system in operation was "by-and-large very favourable".
However, she said as with any business that changed very rapidly there was a need to ensure that all new players in the industry signed up for the current system of self regulation.