The Taoiseach has expressed his faith in the Garda following the shooting dead of two men in an attempted post office raid this morning.
Bertie Ahern warned the public not to get "weak-kneed" when stronger law enforcement is delivered.
Two raiders were killed when gardaí opened fire after challenging a gang of five men during an attempted robbery at a post office in Lusk, in north Dublin.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
According to witnesses, some officers emerged from a camper van parked close to the post office, while others pulled up in cars before storming the building.
It is understood the gang was under surveillance. No one else was injured in the operation.
Deputy Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has appointed Chief Superintendent Kevin Ludlow of the Cork City Division to investigate the shootings.
Mr Ahern said the public had been calling for stronger law enforcement and should not go weak-kneed when it is delivered. "I have every confidence in the gardai, I have every confidence in the job they do," he said.
"Day in, day out people are raising the issue of crime with me, the issue that we're too soft on crime, that we need to be tougher on crime, that we need more resources and more effort.
"When the gardaí respond I hope people don't get weak-kneed."
Mr Ahern said he believed the Garda operation was planned and said he was satisfied the force would carry out a full and proper inquiry into all aspects of the incident.
"There will be a Garda report," he said.
"The gardaí are out there doing a very difficult job against people who are firing shots and shooting people day in, day out in various locations and the gardaí have to respond.
"We have more gardaí now than we've ever had, we have more detectives, we have more special units, they have more resources for dealing with the crime situation and the gardaí are doing a good job."
PA