Cabinet approval will be sought to publish legislation which will ban the retail sale of single-use or disposable vapes.

It is understood the Health Minister Jennifer Carroll-MacNeill will seek to ensure that the ban will come into effect six months after commencement of the Act.

It is expected the Minister will also request Government approval for the additional measures on other nicotine products, such as tobacco pouches, to also be included in the legislation.

The draft legislation is called Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) (Amendment) Bill.

A ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes came into effect in Northern Ireland in June.

It made it a criminal offence to sell or supply single-use vapes, with a maximum penalty of up to two years in jail and a fine.

Businesses there were given six months to prepare for the change by selling existing stock.