Gardaí should raid house parties to search for cocaine, the Taoiseach told the Dáil.
The recent drug-linked deaths was raised by Opposition parties who called for tougher action from the Government.
John Grey (23) who was laid to rest today, was the second man to die after eating damp cocaine at a house party in Waterford City a fortnight ago.
Model Katy French was buried in Co Wicklow yesterday as detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
Reacting to public outrage at the growing cocaine culture, Mr Ahern today told the Dáil he would like to see gardaí raiding house parties to search for drugs.
"The question I have asked more than once in the past week is why don't gardaí go into house parties where people are using cocaine," he said.
"The gardaí have strong powers in this area and I would like to see them enforced more strongly. I want to be frank about that." Mr Ahern added that the drugs were not just being used in pubs and clubs in cities and towns.
He told TDs that the issue was rarely off the Cabinet table whether through gangland activity related to drugs, seizures related to the Criminal Assets Bureau or additional powers for the criminal justice system.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked: "Is it not time that there was a Cabinet-led initiative to deal with drug dealers, drug barons, drug pimps?"
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore added: "We have to smash the supply chain of cocaine and of other illicit drugs and we have to smash the drug gangs who are supplying drugs to our society."
The Taoiseach welcomed the current strong focus on drugs abuse. "We must be tough as a society. The powers are there. The legislation provides for ten-year or 14-year sentences for certain drugs offences. People can serve longer sentences for offences of this type than for murder."
"With the focus of public opinion on the issue, it is time for the Garda to step up its activity. The Government will do whatever it must do if more legislation or resources are needed.
"We must look to the enforcement of the measures and maybe be more harsh on those businesses and so on that tolerate drugs in any way." Mr Ahern also warned of the dangers of crystal meth.
"It's the new drug on the beat and it puts cocaine into a different perspective. It can cause enormous damage."