A new law that would fine parents for allowing their children own mobile phones with unrestricted access to the internet has been proposed by the chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs.

Fine Gael TD Jim Daly is drafting legislation that could also see retailers facing fines if they sell such devices to children under 14.

Its origins lie in stark testimony to the committee in recent months, where it has been stated by children's rights groups that unfettered access to the internet was among the greatest threats facing young people.

The threat comprises everything from online bullying to addiction problems.

Mr Daly has spent months devising a plan to curb the problems and believes that in the future it should be an offence for parents to allow children under 14 to own devices with full internet access.

He said the proposed legislation is just weeks away from completion and could possibly be debated in the Dáil before the summer break.

Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Daly said he did not accept that, with phones so widely available, the proposed regulation might be impossible to enforce.