Gardai arrested a Portuguese care worker at his south Dublin home after he allegedly accepted delivery of a package containing approximately €40,000 in drugs. He was granted bail.

Daniel Rodriguez, 24, of Effra Road, Rathmines, D6, was arrested and detained at Terenure Garda station on Thursday under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act..

The accused, who is from Portugal, was charged with possessing MDMA and ecstasy tablets with intent to supply and was remanded in custody until his appearance before Judge Victor Blake at Dublin District Court on Saturday.

Garda Rebecca Kirwan told the court the accused said "I don't have a reply" when charged.

She objected to bail due to the seriousness of the case.

Garda Kirwan alleged a package addressed to Mr Rodriguez, whom she claimed was caught "red-handed", was delivered to his home.

The accused accepted and signed for the package and at that stage gardai entered his address with a search warrant, Garda Kirwan said.

She agreed with defence solicitor Brian Keenan that Mr Rodriguez has lived in Ireland for seven years. He worked full time in customer care for a health care firm.

Mr Keenan also put it to the garda that his client denied all knowledge of the contents of the parcel.

Pleading for bail, the solicitor submitted that refusal of bail could result in Mr Rodriguez being held for three years until his trial is reached in the circuit court, given current delays.

He had the presumption of innocence and a remand in custody would also result in him losing employment.

An independent surety, who has known the accused for six years, was available was available to stand bail.

Mr Rodriguez, who works from home, would also abide by conditions if he were released, his solicitor told the contested bail hearing

Judge Blake set bail in his own bond of €600 with the surety set at €7,000. Once the money is lodged, Mr Rodriguez must remain in the State, reside at his current address, and provide gardai with his mobile phone number within six hours of release. He has surrendered his passport and cannot apply for a replacement, he was warned.

He was remanded in custody with consent to bail on these terms to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions to be obtained.