The Dáil has approved the extension of both the Offences Against The State and the Criminal Justice amendment acts, decisions which renew the mandate of the non-jury Special Criminal Court for another 12 months.

Sinn Féin abstained in the vote, after Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan gave a commitment that his department would review the relevant legislation, including the operation of Special Criminal Court.

Mr Flanagan said he was aware some TDs were concerned about the role of the Special Criminal Court in the justice process, but argued that no-one could be "blind to the threat posed" by organised criminals and dissident terrorists.

Appealing for amendments to the act to be withdrawn, Minister Flanagan clarified that the Special Criminal Court would be subject to a review - and work to that effect is ongoing in his department.

Fianna Fail's justice spokesperson Jim O'Callaghan welcomed that review of security legislation but he asserted that there are still subversive organisations in this country and that means strong legislation is still required to deal with that threat.

Sinn Féin abstained rather than its normal practice of opposing the acts.

Its justice spokesperson, Martin Kenny, also withdrew his party's amendment given Mr Flanagan's commitment to a full and comprehensive review.

Mr Kenny, though, warned the review needs to happen before this time next year.

However, the renewal of the Special Criminal Court was strongly condemned by People Before Profit's Bríd Smith and Paul Murphy of RISE, who argued that fundamental freedoms, like the right to a jury trial, were being denied to citizens being brought before the court.

The act has been passed by the Dáil, but needs to also be passed by the Seanad if it is to become law.

It is expected that if a new government is formed this weekend, the upper house would sit early next week.

Both Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin have warned that the laws cannot be allowed to lapse in the absence of a fully functioning Oireachtas.

The Seanad is not yet complete as the incoming taoiseach must choose 11 nominees.

This has not been possible as a government has not been formed since February's election.