The Government is set to force the contentious new Criminal Justice Bill through the Dail today without the normal period of debate.

The proposed legislation would give the Gardai tough new powers to tackle gangland criminals, including the use of covert surveillance evidence in court.

It would also allow gangland suspects to be tried before the non-jury Special Criminal Court, where the opinion of a garda will be admissible as evidence.

Anyone convicted of directing the activities of a criminal gang could be jailed for life.

The Irish Council of Civil Liberties is accusing the Government of abusing the Dail by rushing the bill into law before the Dail breaks for the summer next week.

The ICCL says the legislation bears all the hallmarks of a police state and should be subject the most detailed scrutiny.