Anti-terrorist legislation introduced in the wake of the Omagh bombing was renewed in the Dáil this afternoon.
The Minister for Justice Mr O'Donoghue said the "sad reality" was that the Omagh bombers have continued their campaign of violence.
But he pledgedthe investigation into the 1998 bombing which killed 29 and injured hundreds more would not end until those responsible were brought to justice.
No one has been convicted in connection with the atrocity but Mr O'Donoghue told the Dáil there has been "considerable progress" in the Garda crackdown on terrorist activity in the past year.
Some of the provisions of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998, due to expire at end of June but which were today extended for a further 12 months, were considered so draconian they should be regularly renewed.
Mr O'Donoghue said: "One person is currently before the courts on a charge related to the Omagh bomb and the investigation is continuing. The Garda Síochána will never give up the search for those responsible.
"The sad reality is that those responsible for the Omagh bomb have, in the last year, continued their campaign of violence and that there is no change of substance to the circumstances which led to the enactment of the 1998 act."
Mr Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Adrian died in the Omaghbombing, said he was "delighted" by the decision.
Mr Gallagher, spokesman for the Omagh Victims' Group, said: "We met Mr O'Donoghue a few weeks ago and impressed on him the importance of continuing to hunt for the Omagh bombers because they have continued to try to commit other Omaghs.
"It is only through the good work of the gardaí, the RUC and the authorities in London that they didn't succeed - but the threat is very real.
"We recognise that we live in a democracy and we don't just want someone lifted off the streets - it must be a safe conviction."
PA