Nine men have been arrested in counties Louth, Waterford and Wexford by gardaí investigating the threat of dissident republican activity.
Seven men were arrested in the southeast region following an operation by a specialist Garda team.
A house in Keelogue, Barntown, Co Wexford has been sealed off after gardaí who examined the property found a number of items which they believe to be components of an explosive device.
Six men aged between 19 and 71 years were arrested in Co Wexford following the operation. They are being held at Garda stations in Enniscorthy, New, Ross, Wexford and Thomastown, Co Kilkenny under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.
Another man (27) was arrested in Waterford and is being detained at the Garda station in Waterford city under the same legislation.
Two men, aged 20 and 33, were arrested following a search at a property in Dunleer, Co Louth, during which a firearm and ammunition were discovered.
Both are detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. They are being held at Whitehall and Santry Garda stations in Dublin.