THE Government will introduce further measures to deal with organised crime, if they are found to be necessary, the Taoiseach said.

Mr Bruton said the Government had already put in place a very effective package of legislation.

He was replying to the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, who referred to the high number of contract killings in the past year, adding that none of those responsible had been apprehended.

Mr Ahern said it had been reported that there were four criminal gangs operating in Dublin, with three under investigation. "In my constituency, there are about 20 gangs, well known, and nobody is going after any of them."

Mr Bruton said the authorities were not confining their attention to four gangs, or three gangs. They are comprehensively dealing with this problem.