Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said the party will make major changes to the bail laws if they get into office.
Mr Kenny's comments came in an address to the party's Ard Fheis at Citywest in Dublin – their first such conference in two years.
Fine Gael says that 11,000 serious crimes were committed by people on bail in the last two years.
The party says that the justice system is placing the rights of the accused over those of the silent law abiding majority.
Mr Kenny says it is time to shift the balance and is proposing to give the courts the option of electronically tagging people on bail.
The party will also bring forward a new bail act to give judges greater guidance when they are considering bail applications.
Giving the prosecution the right to propose a sentence after a guilty verdict in a serious crime case is another of the party's proposals, along with a system to fast track appeals by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Court of Criminal Appeal.
'Change for the Better' is the slogan for this weekend's conference, which organisers hope will attract up to 4,000 delegates.
The party is currently running a nationwide billboard campaign and plans a series of town hall- type meetings after this weekend to focus attention on the Government’s shortcomings ahead of the summer break.
There will be ten separate sessions chaired by frontbenchers or prominent party figures, and elections to a number of internal posts.
Polls indicate Fine Gael are struggling to capitalise on government unpopularity and organisers hope the weekend will boost morale and showcase a party in good shape for the election ahead.
