Smokers caught flouting the smoking ban are facing prosecution and run the risk of not being permitted entry to the US or Australia, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Health.
A number of pubs are facing prosecution for a breach of the smoking ban, the spokesperson told The Irish Times.
These cases are expected to come before the courts in September.
Files are being prepared regarding those pubs involved in the public flouting of the smoking ban last week, he said.
The pubs could be prosecuted for multiple breaches of the law and face "significant fines" relating to each time they were visited by an environmental health officer and were found to be breaking the law.
Individuals who were smoking in the pubs could also face prosecution.
Such a conviction could adversely affect any plans they may have to travel to the United States or Australia, he added.
The Western Health Board (WHB) has confirmed that environmental health officers took the names and addresses of people smoking in a pub in Galway last week and said it was "seriously considering" taking legal action against customers who breached the smoking ban.
Fines will be dealt with through the court, according to the WHB, and individuals may be liable for fines of up to €3,000 or three months in prison.
A spokesperson for the Southern Health Board confirmed that they are currently pursuing the issue of legal action against two Cork pubs.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Environmental Health Officers' Association said the recent publicity given to premises that blatantly breeched the legislation needs to be taken into perspective.
"We have at least 97 per cent compliance. These pubs are a small number of pubs out of a big number of pubs out of a bigger hospitality sector out of a huge population of employers."
She said that 41 dedicated tobacco officers and 300 general duty environmental health officers are getting a "very good response on the ground".