Mr Proinsias De Rossa, former leader of Democratic Left, is being sued for alleged non-payment of rent for the head offices of the now defunct political party at 69 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin.
Mr De Rossa, MEP for Dublin and TD for Dublin North West as well as President of the Labour Party with which Democratic Left merged, is being sued by New York Pressing and Cleaning Company Ltd which owns No 69 and occupies the ground floor.
Mr Anthony Barr, counsel for the landlord, said Mr De Rossa had rented the top three floors and was counter-claiming that the landlord was unreasonable in not agreeing to his assigning the lease to another tenant.
It was alleged in the Circuit Civil Court that Mr De Rossa, of Old Finglas Road, Dublin, owed £7,875 for rent arrears between January 1999 and May 2000 and £1,227 in insurance premiums payable to the Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance Company Ltd which was jeopardising insurance cover for the premises.
The Civil Bill also alleged that Mr De Rossa had failed to carry out repairs to the specification of the insurers and had refused the landlord access to carry out the works. The landlord company is seeking damages for breach of covenant and a court order directing Mr De Rossa to permit access of its workmen to the premises.
When Mr Barr sought an adjournment of the hearing on the basis that an essential witness had been unable to attend court, Mr Ross O'Driscoll, counsel for Mr De Rossa, said his client was a member of the European Parliament and special arrangements had been made for him to attend court.
The Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Esmond Smyth, adjourned the hearing allowing both parties to arrange a specially fixed date for the trial.