Tánaiste Simon Harris has said somebody is going to get seriously hurt unless sinister threats such as those made against him and his family recently are taken seriously.
Mr Harris said that he had to dig pretty deep to show up for Fine Gael's parliamentary party meeting in Mullingar following a series of threats against his children and other close relatives.
Mr Harris said leadership was about showing up, but he warned that somebody will get hurt unless such sinister and appalling threats are taken seriously.
"Somebody will get seriously hurt in this country. We have to start taking security in this country seriously. My fundamental duty ... is the protection and wellbeing of our family.
"I see a pattern of abusive disgusting, toxic, behaviour that is trying to get me out of public office ... we cannot tolerate or gloss over these issues.
"I hope in me making this point that some good comes of it in terms of the protection of people in public life," he added.
He is now set to talk to both his colleagues and his political opponents on how best to address this issue which he believes is not taken seriously enough in this country.
Today's gathering in the Co Westmeath town is primarily focused on the Budget next month with Mr Harris ruling out once off cost of living measures.
But he said there would be announcements in the Budget that would help people with the cost of living.
He cited the need to support working families as well as increasing access to services for people.
He did not reject the idea of a tax break for property developers but insisted that if such a measure was introduced that "would be it" and they would then have to get on with the job of building homes.
The Tánaiste categorically stated that any VAT cut for the hospitality sector would apply to food services only and not accommodation.
It comes as the Small Firms Association called on the Government to introduce measures in the Budget to tackle the cost of doing business such as high labour costs.
The SFA also renewed its call to for the introduction of a temporary PRSI rebate when Budget 2026 is announced next month.
The measure is among the proposals put forward by the small business representative group in its pre-budget submission, which is being launched today.
The Fine Gael meeting in Mullingar is happening just as the Presidential Election is stepping up a gear, but the party’s election candidate Heather Humphreys will not be in attendance.
Her campaign will be officially launched next weekend.
