The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell has defended his decision not to introduce a law which would see those involved in organised crime tried in the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
"This is not a time for knee-jerk reactions," Mr McDowell said.
Writing in the Sunday Independentthe Minister said we must "maintain a sense of proportion and balance in seeking to meet any new challenge to our system of justice".
"I fervently believe that the fundamentals of our Common Law system and the criminal justice system within that, including the right to a jury trial in accordance with law, are sound," Mr McDowell wrote.
Mr McDowell's comments come a week after the trial of Mr Liam Keane collapsed in the Central Criminal court because six witnesses refused to give evidence.
Speaking in radio interviews later, Mr McDowell said he was "amazed" at some media outlets which were "queuing up" to tear up the Constitution in an effort to tackle a new wave of crime.
He said some elements in the media and the Garda were attempting to blacken his name because they were unhappy with his plans for increased police accountability and plans for the defamation laws.