Ireland could have some of the strictest anti-tobacco laws in the world if new legislation being proposed by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, is approved by Cabinet.
If the proposals become law every retail outlet which sells cigarettes will have to register. A shop could be barred from selling cigarettes if caught providing them to minors.
Self-service sales from cigarette vending machines will also be banned to stop children buying cigarettes and the machines will have to be placed behind the counter in pubs.
RTE's coverage of Formula One motor racing would also be threatened by the legislation. Mr Martin has asked senior RTE managers to either blot out cigarette advertising at Grand Prix races by technological means or stop broadcasting them.
The Minister will bring the heads of the Bill to the Cabinet before Christmas. Under the proposals it would be illegal to display cigarettes or any cigarette advertising, including branded display units, in shops.
The system of registration for retailers will be accompanied by strict penalties for anyone caught selling cigarettes to people under the age of 18, two years older than the current age limit.
Retailers who were found to have broken the law could face being removed from the register and the tobacco industry could be precluded from supplying cigarettes to that shop.
The Minister proposes to introduce a general ban on smoking in the workplace in enclosed areas.
Cigarette manufacturers will be forced to disclose ingredients in tobacco products, which will be open to mandatory testing.
Mr Martin said he wanted to introduce a "strict regime" to reduce the proportion of the population smoking from 31 per cent to 20 per cent in a decade.