Opposition parties have claimed the latest gang-related shooting shows that new criminal justice legislation is coming too late to tackle the problem.
The Criminal Justice Bill 2007, was formally published today, although it had been circulated to Opposition parties earlier in the week.
It is due to begin its passage through the Dáil next week, and Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said he is looking forward to having it enacted and on the Statute Book before Easter.
But Fine Gael's Jim O'Keeffe said the latest fatal shooting showed the legislation was coming too late in the lifetime of this Government to tackle gang-related violence effectively.
He claimed it was a 'rushed bill', which was a frantic move by a failing Minister.
Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh said Mr McDowell was proposing gimmicks that were unnecessary and destined to failure.
But in a statement the Tánaiste, who is in the US, said the legislation will make a very significant contribution to the fight against criminal gangs, and will complement the vast increase in resources provided in recent times to the gardaí, the prosecution services and the courts.
Mr McDowell acknowledged the concern expressed about rushed legislation but said many of the proposals in the bill had been well aired and analysed in public debate in recent months.
He is satisfied the measures are reasonable and justified by the level of threat posed by organised crime.
