Seventy per cent of people polled agreed that the opinion of senior gardaí should be admissible as evidence in securing a conviction against those suspected of serious gun or drugs crime. Just 18% of respondents disagreed with the statement, with a further 12% not expressing an opinion.

The poll also found that over half of respondents lacked confidence in the ability of the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, to tackle serious crime. A total of 53% described themselves as "not very confident" or "not at all confident" when asked whether they believed the current justice minister had the ability to tackle serious crime.

The issue of garda opinion being allowed as evidence in the trial of suspected gang members had been raised following an upsurge in violence last month. Such a measure is currently allowed only in the Special Criminal Court during the trials of those suspected of involvement in republican paramilitary organisations.

However, while the Special Criminal Court has been used to try members of drug and gun gangs, the government has rejected the notion of allowing garda opinion to be admissible as evidence during these trials.

Moves to allow judges convict suspects on the basis of garda opinion would put gang members on a par with republican terrorists. The move was first introduced for republican suspects on the basis that they constituted a direct threat to the security of the state.

Speaking to the Sunday Tribune earlier this month, Michael McDowell commented that "drugs and gun crime are as much a threat to our way of life today as paramilitarism was 10 to 15 years ago." However, McDowell has ruled out the possibility of allowing judges to convict suspected gang members on the opinion of senior gardaí.

The poll results reflect a growing sense of fear over crime in Irish society. Despite rates of serious crime being below those of other European countries, crime is set to be a major election issue.

While Fine Gael abandoned a planned poster campaign targeting McDowell, the Sunday Tribune/Millward Brown poll shows high levels of discontent with the minister for justice.

While 10% of respondents said they were "very confident" McDowell had the ability to tackle serious crime, over twice that number - 21% - said they were "not confident at all". The figures for those who answered "fairly confident" and "not very confident" were identical at 32%.

Four per cent of respondents expressed no opinion on the question.

Rates of dissatisfaction with McDowell were highest in Munster, where 60% of respondents expressed negative opinions on his ability to tackle serious crime. The justice minister's highest rates of approval were among high earners and those over the age of 65.

McDowell retains the support of the majority of government party voters, with 57% of Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrat supporters expressing confidence in his ability to tackle serious crime.

However, opposition party voters expressed the least confidence in McDowell, with 64% of those who support either Fine Gael, Labour or the Green Party expressing a lack of confidence in his ability to tackle serious crime.

Confidence low in justice minister

"How confident are you in the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell's ability to tackle serious crime?"

10% Very confident
32% Fairly confident 32% Not very confident
21% Not at all confident

"It has been suggested that in trials of those accused of serious gun and drugs offences, the opinion of a senior garda should be admissible as evidence in securing a conviction. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal?"

70% agree
18% disagree
12% Don't know / no opinion