The maximum sentence for people who assault emergency workers could be increased to 12 years.
Justice Minister Simon Harris is set to bring the new proposals before the government shortly.
Representative bodies have been calling for tougher measures to deter people from attacking the likes of gardaí, paramedics and hospital staff.
Leitrim TD and Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Justice Martin Kenny says moves to defter attacks on Gardai are welcome but are also long overdue.
Deputy Kenny says the issues facing Gardaí go a lot deeper though, with over 100 resignations for the force last year alone.
He says everyone wants to see a bigger deterrent for anyone who attacks a front line service provider, but the other issues can't be ignored either.
'We are all very conscious of the number of Gardaí that have been attacked on duty and indeed other frontline service personal as well.
It is a serious problem that we need to put serious deterrents in place.
This is something that is to be welcomed but I don't think it will be a solution overnight.
Really the problem with An Garda Siochana and the issues that are out there such as the number of personal available and the resources that they have such as the technology that they use and all of that.
It is not going to solve the problem but it is welcome because hopefully it will put serious deterrents in place.'
