A public consultation programme has begun on the best system for placing automated external defibrillators in community spaces around the country.
The health technology assessment by the Health Information and Quality Authority will also look at the medical benefits, cost effectiveness and budget impact.
An AED is a small, portable device that analyses the heart rhythm of a person who has experienced cardiac arrest and delivers an electric shock through the chest wall.
The electrical current momentarily stuns the heart, stopping the abnormal rhythm and helping the heart resume normal electrical activity.
The proposed legislation in this area, the Public Health (Availability of Defibrillators) Bill 2013, has the capacity to impact 43,000 premises in Ireland.
The public consultation will continue until 17 October 2014 and details of how to take part are available at hiqa.ie.
HIQA will then advise Minister for Health Leo Varadkar on the issue.
Experts recommend moving NI children's cardiac surgery
A team of international experts has recommended that children's cardiac surgery in Northern Ireland should move to Dublin.
The International Working Group reached its conclusion because of an insufficient number of patients in Belfast.
The IWG report has been sent to the departments of health in Belfast and Dublin for their consideration.
