Government plans to introduce a register of all mobile phones are likely to only relate to new "pay-as-you-go" handsets, meaning thousands of these phones already in circulation will not be affected.
The Minister of State responsible for drugs strategy, Pat Carey TD, revealed yesterday that he did not think it would be feasible to "backdate" the measure to include older phones.
The proposals, which are contained in the Programme for Government, could mean individuals buying "pay-as-you-go" phones will in future have to produce identification and proof of address, as is currently the case with "bill pay" phones.
The aim would be to prevent their use by criminals involved in the drugs trade, as well as their use from within prisons.
This year a Garda inquiry was launched after a prisoner made a phone call from prison to an RTÉ radio talk show.
Mr Carey told The Irish Timesthe recent use of mobile phone technology to track the movements of murderer Joe O'Reilly was one example of how useful this technology could be.
He said any new deterrent which could make it "that bit more difficult" for criminal elements to undertake their activities was welcome.
In this context, even if it proved to be of limited use and may inconvenience "bona fide" users, he believed the move would be worthwhile.
He said in introducing any such measure the Government would also take into account all of the relevant data protection legislation and human rights legislation.
Mr Carey added that he would like to examine the possibility of registering "pay-as-you-go" phones in the near future.
Last May convicted armed robber John Daly telephoned RTÉ's Livelineshow from his cell in Portlaoise maximum security prison on a smuggled mobile phone.
He was still on air contributing to the programme when a prison officer went into his cell to bring the phone call to an end.
"I can't stay long, I can't stay long, I'm ringing from my cell," he said.
At the time this prompted criticism from Opposition parties that prison had become a "soft option".
The Irish Prison Service subsequently revealed that its search of the prison had uncovered 17 smuggled mobile phones, five Sim cards and 11 phone chargers.