Co Limerick TD Michael Collins has been sent for trial following a Garda investigation into his tax affairs.
Mr Collins (65), Independent Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick West, appeared before Rathkeale District Court at Newcastle West yesterday on two charges relating to taxation offences.
Last July, Mr Collins, of Patrickswell, Co Limerick, was charged with cheating the Office of The Collector General by applying for a tax clearance cert at a time when he had undeclared tax liabilities.
He was further charged with obtaining a tax clearance certificate by false pretences.
Both offences are alleged to have taken place on unknown dates in May 2002.
Yesterday, Judge Mary Halloran was told that the Director Of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had withdrawn the charge relating to cheating the Office of the Collector General.
Counsel for the DPP Séamus Cassidy said the book of evidence relating to the case was served on Mr Collins on August 8th last, and requested that the matter be sent forward for trial to the next sitting of the Circuit Criminal Court in Limerick.
Judge Halloran remanded Mr Collins - who was present in court yesterday with members of his family - on continuing bail on his own bond of €200, and returned the matter for trial to the next sitting of the Circuit Criminal Court in Limerick in November.
No reason was given in court as to why one of the two charges had been withdrawn.
After the hearing, Mr Cassidy said the office of the DPP "doesn't usually give reasons for decisions".
A brother of former Fianna Fáil minister and MEP Gerry Collins, Michael Collins is the first TD to be charged with taxation offences.
A long-standing member of the Fianna Fáil party, he resigned the whip in 2003 after his name appeared on a list of tax defaulters.
The Collins family has held a seat in the Dáil for the West Limerick constituency for the past 60 years.
Michael Collins' nephew, Cllr Niall Collins, is due to replace his uncle on the Fianna Fáil ticket when he steps down as a TD next year.