The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, has accused the Government of having "no clear plan, no sense of urgency", concerning the crisis over the present "wave of crime".
Speaking in New Ross, Co Wexford, last night, Mr Ahern said that "the hour of decision making has arrived".
Fianna Fail had consistently brought forward new Bills which would change the bail laws, penalise drug pushers and keep criminals in jail "but this foolish Government, even as recently as last week, has refused to accept our well researched legislation and continues to promise us action in the future."