Labour's Senators will call today for the state's witness protection programme to be put on a statutory footing to help convict more gangland criminals.
Senator Dominic Hannigan and his colleagues are proposing in the Seanad to enshrine the scheme in legislation to boost its effectiveness.
The Court of Criminal Appeal has been critical of the witness protection programme in the past and recommended that it be placed on a proper statutory footing.
There have been 17 gangland killings in Ireland already this year.
Mr Hannigan said: "A robust witness protection programme is essential for the safety of criminals who are now prepared to give evidence to convict former associates.
"But it must be put on a proper statutory basis and under independent oversight to safeguard against any claims of abuse or miscarriages of justice."
There were 27 gun murders in 2006 compared with 21 in 2005 and just nine in 2004.