246 held under powers to tackle terror

Almost 250 suspected dissident republicans and 25 gang members were arrested within the last year under emergency anti-terror and organised crime laws.

The figures were provided by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald as she sought Oireachtas approval to renew the emergency powers, which must be done annually.

Amendments to the Offences Against the State Act 1939 were introduced in the wake of the Omagh bombing in August 1998. The Real IRA outrage resulted in the death of 29 civilians, including a woman pregnant with twins, as well as six children and six teenagers.