Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is to bring proposals for new bail and anti-racketeering laws before Cabinet later today as part of a legislative package aimed at clamping down on organised crime.
The proposals include a tightening in minimum sentencing laws and changes to evidence laws in organised crime cases.
Under the proposed legislation, a reduction in minimum sentences in drugs and gun crimes will be allowed only in exceptional circumstances.
Changes will also be introduced in relation to bail hearings.
The opinion of a chief superintendent that a suspect would commit further offences if allowed out on bail will be admissible in court under the plans.
The streamlining of the courts system relating to bail hearings is also expected in the package.
The opinion of senior gardaí will also be admissible as evidence in some serious organised crime cases where intimidation of witnesses is considered an issue.
Details on the anti-racketeering and other legislation will be published later today if approved by the Cabinet.
The anti-racketeering element of the package is believed to be based on similar laws in the US called the Rico (Racketeering Influence Criminal Organisation) statutes, which have been used to target organised crime, especially the Italian Mafia.
Under Rico laws, individuals found guilty of two of 35 proscribed activities over a 10-year period can be jailed for up to 20 years. It is understood that the Irish plans would see high minimum sentences being imposed for persons convicted of a second drug trafficking offence.
The proposals will also include measures relating to people discovered with large sums of cash.
The possession of large sums of unaccounted for cash could lead to separate charges, while the failure to account for the source of the cash could be used in evidence against individuals.
Those found with drug-dealing equipment such as weighing scales and bags may also face charges under the proposals.
The changes to bail and minimum sentences laws follows controversy last year when Mr McDowell criticised the fact that 80 per cent of serious drug offenders received less than the minimum sentence. He also highlighted concerns that serious criminals were committing serious offences while out on bail.
His comments were the source of anger among members of the judiciary and prompted comments from a Supreme Court in one judgment from the Court of Criminal Appeal.
In December, Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman referred to what he termed "strident and repeated public comments" made that month on the subject of mandatory sentences for drugs offences.
He said these comments had been given "wide and excited" coverage in the media, but that the court paid the comments in question no attention whatever.
He said the duty of judges was to decide individual cases impartially in accordance with the Constitution and the laws, without regard to expressions of opinion from any source other than the Director of Public Prosecutions and the person on whom the sentence was imposed.