The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday the public should not go "weak-kneed" on law enforcement and said he had every confidence in the Garda Síochána.
He said the public had been calling for stronger law enforcement and should not go weak-kneed when it is delivered.
"I have every confidence in the gardaí. I have every confidence in the job they do," he said.
"Day in, day out, people are raising the issue of crime with me, the issue that we're too soft on crime, that we need to be tougher on crime, that we need more resources and more effort."
Mr Ahern said he was satisfied the force would carry out a full and proper inquiry.
"There will be a Garda report," he said.
"The gardaí are out there doing a very difficult job against people who are firing shots and shooting people day in, day out in various locations and the gardaí have to respond."