A bail application by Mr Michael McKevitt (51) of Dundalk in Co Louth has been adjourned at the Special Criminal Court until April 24th.
He faces charges that between August 29th 1999 and March 28th 2001, within the State, he was a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Real IRA, and that between August 29th 1999 and October 23rd 2000, within the State, he directed the activities of the same organisation.
Mr Justice Johnson remanded Mr McKevitt in custody to appear at the court on Tuesday, April 24th, when the bail application will be heard.
Mr McKevitt was arrested last Thursday morning at his home in Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk.
Mr McKevitt is the first person in the State to be charged with directing an unlawful organisation - an offence under Section 6 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, brought in 1998 just two weeks after the Omagh bombing which killed 29 people and injured more than 200.
Under the Act anyone convicted of directing an unlawful organisation is liable to life imprisonment.