Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has asked the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence to consider a report by his department on "cash for gold" transactions.
According to the report, 124 "cash for gold" businesses were in operation as of February 2012.
Minister Shatter said that the laws relating to receiving stolen goods are sufficient to deal with any business found to handling stolen property.
However Mr Shatter said that certain other regulations, such as those imposed on pawnbrokers, do not apply to "cash for gold" businesses.
"My concerns are a number of issues. One, it seems anomalous that pawn brokers should be required to retain records while those engaged in the "cash for gold" trade aren't required to do so, and then I come back to the issue that we have to be careful that we don't impose undue burdens on other businesses that have been in place for many years," Mr Shatter said.
Mr Shatter said that gardaí had visited all of the cash for gold businesses in operation in the State to ensure that they are aware of the laws regarding the receipt of stolen property.
"Some people are of the belief that these outlets are used by individuals engaged in burglaries and theft generally," Mr Shatter said.
"The Garda Síochána reported back that they are not aware of the involvement of criminal elements in the ownership of "cash for gold" outlets and they have furnished them with details of who to contact should they be suspicious of any transactions."
Mr Shatter said that he has asked the Oireachtas Committee to examine the report and to produce "a proportionate proposal" on how to proceed further.
