The Fine Gael MEP Ms Avril Doyle is to contest three charges relating to her driving during a road traffic incident in Dublin in 2002.
Dublin District Court yesterday fixed December 10th for the case, which is expected to last just over an hour.
The court was told there would be three prosecution witnesses and one defence witness.
Ms Doyle was in court but did not speak and was not required to take the witness box during the 10-minute hearing.
Ms Doyle, Kitestown, Co Wexford, was summonsed to answer charges of careless driving, driving without reasonable consideration and dangerous driving. The offences are alleged to have occurred on the M1/M50 at Santry, Dublin, on March 26th, 2002, when another car allegedly ran into Ms Doyle's car.
Ms Joan Walsh, for Ms Doyle, objected to an amendment to the summons requested by Mr Ray Briscoe, a solicitor for the DPP. Mr Briscoe told Judge Leo Malone that the DPP wished to make a "slight" amendment to the summons in order to clarify the location of the traffic incident, which took place on a slip road at the M1/M50 in Santry.
She said the defence was not informed before yesterday's court hearing that the amendment was being requested. The incident had taken place more than two years ago and the DPP was "at this late stage" now seeking an amendment.
Ms Walsh said the request by the prosecution for the amendment showed a defect in their case. It was prejudicial to her client and should not be granted.
However, Judge Malone said he had wide powers under District Court rules and granted the amendment. Ms Walsh said because Ms Doyle worked outside the jurisdiction it would be preferable for her if a Friday hearing date was set. Judge Malone, sitting in court 53, said Friday hearings in his court were given over to "city council business".
However, he transferred the case to court 54 in the same building, which fixed the Friday, December 10th, date.
