Senior gardaí may be given extra resources to tackle Dublin criminals as detectives investigate the capital's latest gangland killings.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan is to make the offer today when he meets senior officers as part of routine meetings with the force.
On Friday night, used-car dealer Brian Downes (40) and Eddie Ward (24) a father of two, were shot dead by a gunman at Mr Downes's mother's home in Walkinstown just before 10pm.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan is expected to give extra resources to tackle Dublin criminals
Gardaí believe Mr Downes was the target of the gun attack and that Mr Ward, who had called to see Mr Downes, was caught up in the attack.
Mr Ward's family last night denied he had any criminal links and said they were offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of his killer.
"He was his own man. He wasn't a salesman for Brian Downes or he wasn't an associate. He was paying all his taxes. He was a registered motor dealer," said Mr Ward's brother, Michael.
"Then some coward came in from the middle of nowhere and blew him away," he told RTÉ radio.
"My family and friends have put up a reward. We won't say how much over the airwaves. We just want any information at all leading to the capture of the killer because Edward was an innocent bystander. It could be you or me or anybody."
Detectives appealed for anyone who was in the Greenhills Road area, particularly near the Greenhills roundabout, between 9.30pm and 10.30pm on Friday night to contact detectives at Crumlin station.
The murders were the 12th and 13th gangland-style killings so far this year.
Mr Lenihan is to meet Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy this morning to discuss the Garda's response.
An upsurge in gangland violence in Dublin in recent weeks included the shooting of an unarmed motorcycle garda last month.
Last week, new measures to further reform An Garda Siochána was announced. Among those is the recruitment of senior investigating officers to take charge of serious crime inquiries such as these latest murders.
Sinn Féin justice spokesman Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the Minister could free up as many around 4,000 gardaí from administrative duties but was prevaricating.
"If the Minister is serious about tackling the serious criminals in our society then he must free up the gardaí to do it," Mr Ó Snodaigh said.
The Irish Timesreports today that the Government is likely to opt out of an EU treaty aimed at tackling international crime including drug smuggling.
A Cabinet sub-committee will meet today to decide on a recommendation to the full cabinet at its regular Tuesday meeting tomorrow.