Judges who under-perform are letting gardaí down, according to the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).
On the final day of the AGSI conference in Galway, the association said judges that did not send convicted drug dealers to jail or who did not impose tough sentences were under-performing and letting the gardaí down.
A motion calling for a mandatory minimum three-month sentence for possession of drugs was passed by the conference.
However, a motion calling for fast food outlets - which gardaí believe are focal points for public disorder - to be licensed like public houses was, surprisingly, defeated by a large majority.
Another motion calling for more training for gardaí who deal with people with special needs was also passed. The Special Olympics are being held in Ireland during the summer.