The Special Criminal Court will next October fix a trial date for Mr Michael McKevitt, the alleged leader of the "Real IRA", who is accused of directing terrorism.
The court yesterday fixed October 9th as the date for the hearing of preliminary legal argument over the disclosure of documents to Mr McKevitt's defence team.
Mr Justice Johnson, presiding, said the court would on that date "hopefully" be in a position to fix a date for Mr McKevitt's trial early next year.
Mr McKevitt was served with a writ in Portlaoise Prison last Friday by the families of the 29 people killed in the "Real IRA" bomb attack in Omagh in August, 1998.
Another four men are also being sued for damages by the families in a civil action before the Belfast High Court.
Prosecuting counsel Mr George Birmingham SC said yesterday that the defence was seeking further documentation from the British and US authorities and that he was satisfied the Irish authorities had furnished everything under their control.
Mr McKevitt's counsel, Mr Stephen McCann, that their concerns were not about the affidavits furnished by the Irish authorities but about authorities outside the jurisdiction and what they felt the defence ought or ought not to have.
Mr Birmingham said the trial was essentially a one witness trial and would turn largely on the evidence of that one witness, Mr David Rupert.
Mr Justice Johnson set aside six weeks for the trial, which is expected to begin in February next year.
An earlier hearing was told that Mr Rupert worked for the FBI and British Intelligence, and that he was observed by gardaí meeting Mr McKevitt on a number of occasions.
The court also heard that he infiltrated the "Real IRA" leadership and attended their army council meetings.
The court has also heard that Mr McKevitt allegedly met Mr Rupert over a two-year period and asked him to acquire equipment for the dissident republicans.
Mr McKevitt (51) of Beech Park, Blackrock, Dundalk, Co Louth is charged that between August 29th, 1999 and March 28th, 2001, within the State, he was a member of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann and that he directed the activities of that organisation.
It is the first prosecution for directing terrorism under legislation brought in after the 1998 Omagh bombing and carries a life sentence on conviction.