TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has promised the speedy introduction of new surveillance legislation to tackle gangland crime.
But he insisted gardaí already had sufficient powers and resources to target those behind the murder of Shane Geoghegan in Limerick.
He was responding to criticism in the Dáil from the Opposition leaders, who maintained the Government was not doing enough to deal with organised crime gangs.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said those engaged in Limerick's drugs feud were "very dangerous" people.
He understood why others would be afraid to give evidence against them, but said gardaí badly needed such evidence.
"It's not more legislation we need, it's hard evidence. And that's what the Garda Commissioner is saying very bluntly to us."
Mr Ahern said people were not being asked to go in to the witness protection programme. Instead they could simply supply the Garda with information on a confidential basis.
Mr Geoghegan's funeral is being held in Limerick today.
The Dáil is to debate the issue of gangland crime tomorrow in the wake of last Sunday's murder of the popular 28-year-old who was engaged to be married.
The Irish Rugby Football Union said one minute's silence would be observed before Saturday's match between Ireland and New Zealand in Croke Park, Dublin, as a mark of respect to the murdered Garryowen club man.
Long queues formed in Limerick city yesterday to sign books of condolence.
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy spent much of yesterday in the city.
He met Assistant Commissioner Kevin Ludlow and the team investigating Mr Geoghegan's murder. The fatal shooting took place just yards from his Dooradoyle home when he was returning from a night spent with friends.
He was killed when a gunman, allegedly sent by the McCarthy-Dundon gang to kill a member of the Keane-Collopy gang, mistook Mr Geoghegan for their target, shooting him three times in the body and once in the head.
Mr Murphy said the witness protection programme and every other power at the disposal of the Garda would be used to catch the killers.
"There is a small number of people in this city, as well as other hotspots, places like Finglas, where these deaths are occurring and we will take on those criminals and have taken them on."
After meeting early yesterday with Mr Murphy, Attorney General Rory Brady and Mr Ahern, Mr Cowen said everything possible was being done to catch those responsible.
He said he could not guarantee similar murders would not be repeated because those responsible had contempt for the lives of others. The new surveillance legislation would enable gardaí to use information gathered covertly as evidence in criminal trials.
"We need to find a balance between allowing the Garda Síochána to collect evidence in a way which will withstand legal scrutiny and, at the same time, get on with policing on a day-to-day basis so we have community support . . . for the gardaí in the work they do on our behalf."
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said 20-year prison sentences were needed as a clear deterrent to murder gangs.
"The Government response to this latest atrocity has been too bland and too easy.
"This is a war, which the Taoiseach does not appear to be winning," he told the Dáil.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore accused the Taoiseach of being defeatist. "We do not want to hear the reasons certain things cannot be done. We need to see, led by Government, which my party will support in this, definitive measures taken that will solve and address this problem," he said.
Both Mr Cowen and Mr Ahern said gardaí in Limerick had been very successful in solving gun crime and murder. Mr Ahern said the Garda's record in the city was "second to none".
