Proposals announced today by Tánaiste Michael McDowell's to counter serious crime have been criticised by opposition parties and human rights groups.
According to Mr McDowell, the proposed measures are designed to counter gangland activity and include limitations on the right to silence, new restrictions on bail conditions and increased sentencing for repeat offenders.
Fine Gael spokesman Jim O'Keeffe criticised the Tánaiste's proposals, saying they were "five years too late" and warned that the measures would have no serious impact on the growing number of crimes committed by suspects out on bail.
Mr O'Keeffe said the measures "fall short of the sort of tough crime measures that Fine Gael wants to see."
He added that he was "particularly disappointed that there is no provision for electronic tagging of offenders released on bail."
The Labour Party's spokesperson on Justice, Brendan Howlin described the measures as "last-gasp proposals."
He said it was final recognition by Minister McDowell that the description of drug lords as a 'dying wasp'and "the horrific litany of gun murders" as a 'final sting' were an 'illusion'.
However, Mr Howlin said the party would assist the Minister "to fight crime for his remaining few months, and are determined that an alternative government will place this issue at the top of our political agenda."
Earlier, the Tánaiste said he believed he would get all-party agreement to pass the draft legislation into law by Easter.
"I do believe I have the great support of the members of Dail Eireann," he said, "and the overwhelming support of the public."
"I believe all the organs of the State share a common duty to apply appropriate deterrent sentences to the scourge of drugs and gangland crime".
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said it would study 'closely' the basis for measures proposed today by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell aimed at curbing violent and organised crime.
In a statement released this evening, the rights council warned that the removal of rights from people accused of crimes "is not an effective mechanism."
"In fact, removing these rights will not do anything to protect the victim, and ultimately, they may undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system itself," the statement said.
Solicitor Michael Finucane spoke of his "serious concern" over the measures.
Mr Finucane said he was concerned by the "fundamental nature of the changes" being proposed by the Minister for Justice and said many of the new measures, which the Tanaiste himself described as "severe" were "very extreme".
Speaking on RTE One Six O' Clock News, Mr Finucane said: "the real way to deal with serious crime is to prevent it from happening, rather than trying to redress it after the fact."
Mr Finucane said: "We have a serious problem that requires a serious approach. But the Minister seems to be more concerned with making you afraid of it, rather than trying to present a solution to it."