Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has condemned the recent violence in Drogheda.
He also said that he is confident that the robust garda response will ensure that the small number of dangerous criminals operating in Drogheda will face the full force of the law.
Speaking in Killarney, where he was addressing new citizens at a citizenship ceremony, Mr Flanagan said: "I am acutely conscious of the concerns of the people of Drogheda and I totally condemn the disgraceful criminal behaviour of a small number of violent thugs in Drogheda in recent times.
"I am continuously briefed on developments and I have visited Drogheda to engage with local gardaí. While operational matters are purely a matter for the Garda Commissioner, I welcome the special policing operation in place now in Drogheda - Operation Stratus - I am confident it will be highly effective.
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"I also welcome the allocation of additional gardaí to the Louth Division, most recently last month.
"I want to reassure the community in Drogheda that there is also a specialised regional Armed Support Unit based in Co Louth.
"Members of that Unit are highly trained and equipped with a variety of non-lethal and lethal weapons and perform high visibility armed checkpoints and patrols throughout the region.
"The work of local gardaí, where necessary, is supported by a number of garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
"My clear message to those engaged in violent crime in Drogheda is that they must stop immediately. They will not get away with their dangerous behaviour."
Meanwhile, local TD Fergus O'Dowd has called for more gardaí to be stationed in Drogheda and given whatever resources they need in order to manage the situation there.
Armed gardaí patrolled the streets of the town last night following an escalation of the gang feud in the town.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr O'Dowd said that two criminal gangs are placing the entire population of Drogheda at risk.
The Fine Gael TD said that there is fear and deep concern in the town and gardaí in Drogheda are being placed under serious strain.
Mr O'Dowd said Drogheda has 35 fewer gardaí than Dundalk, which is a similarly sized town.
He said that the Minister for Justice has assured him that armed gardaí are now patrolling Drogheda and "more gardaí are on their way".
Mr O'Dowd said that crime "must not pay" and people should be able to walk through their town "free of fear".
Elsewhere, rank and file gardaí are seeking a 24-hour armed support unit in every division in the country to deal with violent crime.
The call has come from garda delegates who will gather in Killarney, Co Kerry, this evening for the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association.
