The High Court decided yesterday that a claim by an Irish company that an Italian company owes it more than $1.5 million (€1.24 million) should be heard by the courts here.

General Monitors Ireland Ltd, which is incorporated in Ireland and runs a manufacturing business in Galway, has brought proceedings against Ses-Asa Protection, which is incorporated in Italy and runs its business there.

The plaintiff manufactures high-technology instruments used to detect combustible toxic gases and flames.

In a reserved judgment yesterday, Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan said the plaintiff was claiming sums of €345,224 and $1,115,948 as amounts alleged to be due and owing by the defendant in respect of goods sold and delivered at the defendant's request within the last six years.

The judge said the plaintiff contended that the Irish courts had jurisdiction to hear and determine the proceedings.

The defendant had entered an appearance for the purpose of contesting the jurisdiction of the Irish courts.

The defendant was seeking an order setting aside service on it of the summons on grounds that the Irish courts do not have jurisdiction to hear and determine the proceedings.

Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan said she had concluded that the delivery of the goods under the contracts for sale took place in Ireland.

In accordance with article 5 (1)(b) of an European Ccommission Council regulation, the place of performance of "the obligations in question" in the present proceedings was the Republic of Ireland and accordingly, under that article, the defendant could be sued in the courts of the Republic of Ireland.