The prospect of deer hunting with hounds being outlawed has moved a step closer after the cabinet approved heads of a proposed bill, environment minister John Gormley said.

Quad biking and jet-skiing will be banned in environmentally sensitive areas and the fines for breaches of the Wildlife Acts will be doubled if the new law is enacted.

The proposed amendment to prohibit deer hunting with a hound or pack of hounds will not have implications for fox-hunting, hare coursing or deer shooting.