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The legislation on prison sentences handed down for murder is to be reviewed, the Justice Minister has said.
This comes after controversy over a 14-year minimum term imposed on a member of the dissident republican gang that killed police officer Stephen Carroll.
The sentencing has been referred to the Court of Appeal, but minister David Ford revealed that when the case is concluded he plans to consider the legislation that guides judges.
Mr Ford made the announcement at the Assembly as MLAs discussed sentencing reform, including calls for Northern Ireland to be brought into line with Britain where the killing of a police officer attracts 30 years behind bars.
The minister said: "Sentencing in individual cases must be a matter for the independent judiciary, free from political interference and I do not intend to compromise that principle. However it is the role of government to determine the legislative framework within which courts make their decisions.
"There was strong public reaction to the sentence handed down in this case and after careful reflection, I have decided that it is appropriate to review what tariffs are appropriate starting points for certain types of murders, including the murder of a police officer."
The move follows comments from Kate Carroll, the murdered officer's widow, who was critical of the minimum tariff in the case of 21-year-old John Paul Wootton, whose sentencing last month was influenced by the fact that he was 17 at the time of the killing.
Wootton was convicted of the murder of Mr Carroll who was killed by the Continuity IRA in March 2009. His co-accused, Brendan McConville, was sentenced to at least 25 years in jail.
The minister said that details of the review are still being developed and will be informed by the Court of Appeal judgment in the Wootton case. The current legislation governing the determination of tariffs in Northern Ireland is the Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001.
The minister said he had already spoken to Kate Carroll and Police Federation representative Terry Spence to make them aware of his plan.
