The High Court has confirmed July 10th as the date for the hearing of an action brought by the Mahon tribunal over publication by The Irish Times of an article disclosing that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern received substantial cash payments from businessmen when he was minister for finance in 1993.
The president of the High Court, Mr Justice Richard Johnson, had last month provisionally fixed July 10th as the date for hearing of the proceedings by the tribunal against Irish Times editor Geraldine Kennedy and public affairs correspondent Colm Keena.
However, he listed the case for mention yesterday to confirm whether that date suited both sides. Denis McDonald, for the tribunal, told the judge yesterday that the date could be confirmed.
The case is expected to last up to eight days and will address a range of issues relating to press freedom and freedom of expression. Lengthy affidavits have been filed on the matter.
The proceedings are aimed at compelling both journalists to disclose the source of confidential information regarding payments to Mr Ahern. The action arose from an article, written by Mr Keena and published by The Irish Times on September 21st, 2006, entitled: "Tribunal examines payments to Taoiseach".
The article quoted a letter which was written on behalf of the tribunal to a businessman, David McKenna, which the tribunal says was marked "strictly private and confidential".
When summoned before the tribunal on September 26th last, both journalists refused to provide documents or answer questions that might identify the source of the information on which the article was based.
Ms Kennedy said the letter in question had been destroyed.
In an affidavit in the case, Ms Kennedy has said it is "a matter of legitimate and significant public and political interest" that the Taoiseach received substantial cash payments from businessmen in 1993.
These were "matters of fact and not mere allegations" and the citizens of Ireland were entitled to know them, she said.