The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has said that An Garda Síochána is due to begin recruitment of crime analysts.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Today with Pat Kenny, he said the analysts would provide intelligence back-up for the main garda force and that their role was modelled on that adopted by the PSNI in Northern Ireland.
Mr McDowell ruled out the arming of gardaí to deal with serious crime.
