Gangland criminals are targeting every part of the country and must not be allowed to destroy families and communities, Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, said tonight.
Unveiling his Criminal Justice Bill in the Dáil, Mr McDowell told TDs its measures are both necessary and proportionate to the threat faced by organised crime.
Under the emergency draft laws, gardaí will be able to hold suspects in tiger kidnappings for up to seven days and electronically tag offenders on bail.
People convicted of possessing drugs with a value of half a million euro or more will get a minimum mandatory jail term of ten years.
Mr McDowell said: "All of us, without exception, accept that we cannot tolerate the growing threat from organised crime.
"It is not a threat that is confined to certain areas around Dublin; it is a threat that, increasingly, we are facing in every part of the country and in every strata of society."
The 128-page long Bill is to be rushed through the Oireachtas before the general election.
Fine Gael's spokesperson on Justice, Jim O'Keeffe, said he was worried that loopholes in the emergency legislation may allow criminals to walk free.
But Mr McDowell said: "From time to time this House is confronted with issues that go to the heart of our role as national legislators.
"On such occasions, a courageous response on our part can give leadership and can galvanise society into clear and determined action.
"The Criminal Justice Bill 2007 gives an opportunity to send a clear and unambiguous message that, as a society, we are not prepared to allow organised criminal gangs set about the destruction of families and communities."