Currently, e-cigarettes are not illegal, but there is the possibility that individual restaurants might decide themselves if they want people smoking the devices on their premises.

It was announced earlier this year that the sale of e-cigarettes to people aged under 18 would be made illegal. This was followed by a ban on the use of electronic cigarettes on the DART and Irish Rail trains.

The Department of Health said in January that it hopes to regulate e-cigarettes this year. TheJournal.ie spoke to people on both sides of the debate to find out what the issues at stake are...