The Taoiseach has defended the Government's record on tackling gangland crime, after Labour leader Pat Rabbitte claimed that drugs gangs were operating ‘with impunity’.
This evening, Justice Minister Michael McDowell formally introduced amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill, aimed at tackling gun crime.
The amendments will see the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes. A firearms amnesty to allow people to surrender weapons without being prosecuted has also been introduced.
Sunday morning's drive-by shooting on Dublin's M50 was the latest in a series of gangland crimes. Labour's Pat Rabbitte claimed the shoot-out proved the Government was not in control of the situation.
He said there had been only 12 convictions arising from 75 gangland killings over a six-year period.
However, the Taoiseach insisted that crime figures are now lower than during the Rainbow Coalition's term in office.
Bertie Ahern further said the Government had given the gardaí huge resources in terms of numbers, and overtime.
