THE Garda should be asked to focus on contract killings, the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, said.

On the order of business, he asked if any new legislation was proposed to deal with this issue which was causing great public concern. There had been eight contract killings in recent times.

The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, said the recent package of legislation was designed to deal with all aspects of crime. Contract killings were even more difficult to detect than when an individual directly involved carried out the crime because it was more difficult to find evidence to match the person with the motive. Finding evidence for contract killings was a painstaking task and there was no point in the Garda bringing cases to court without evidence.

The new legislation would make it possible to tackle the financial transactions of organised criminals. The Minister for Justice was prepared to consider suggestions from any quarter that might improve the law further, the Taoiseach added.