The Garda Commissioner has accepted there has been a resurgence in gangland murders in the past two months but insists the activities of criminal gangs and dissident republican groups remain the force's top priority.
Nóirín O'Sullivan was speaking at a ceremony at the Garda College in Templemore for 99 new gardaí.
Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said there was no intelligence available of any specific threat from dissident republicans to the 1916 Commemoration events south of the border.
The three gang-related murders in the past six weeks equalled the total number for the whole of last year.
The murders occurred in spite of armed patrols and checkpoints around Dublin, but Commissioner O'Sullivan said that some criminals are determined to kill and that no matter how many gardaí there are, they cannot be everywhere all the time.
The commissioner also pointed out there had been 41 reports with over 700 recommendations on work of the gardaí over the past ten years.
On the most recent Garda Inspectorate report and the finding that over 1,000 gardaí could be released from Garda Headquarters for frontline policing, the commissioner said she would like to discuss further with the inspectorate as to where these positions are and what defines a frontline officer.
Ms Fitzgerald described the activities of criminal gangs and the recent murders as "a challenging situation for An Garda Síochána".
She added: "I believe there is very good operational work at present, there have ongoing investigations into recent murders.
"This is not an easy situation. These are people who, as we have seen, are intent on revenge and we've seen the appalling atrocities that they've committed.
"And every effort will be made to pursue those prosecutions and bring these people to justice. As I've said before, these people are not outside the law."
Appeal for dignified funeral of shooting victim
Ms Fitzgerald said every possible step will be taken to ensure the funeral of Vincent Ryan passes off in a dignified manner.
The 25-year-old dissident republican was shot dead in Finglas, Dublin last Monday.
Ms Fitzgerald said the public does not want to see any type of display similar to the one that occurred at his brother Alan's funeral four years ago but she said sometimes it was quite difficult to prevent it
She added: "But I understand the Garda Commissioner has been in contact with the family who have expressed their wishes to her."
Asked by the media whether there needed to be some restrictions under law about the use of the Tricolour at paramilitary events, including funerals, Ms Fitzgerald said she did not believe this could be provided for under legislation.
