A Galway plumber is suing Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames and her husband Michael over alleged non-payment for work carried out on their home in Oranmore.
Oranmore tradesman Michael Allen claims he is owed in the region of €23,000 in outstanding fees.
A judge at Galway Circuit Civil Court directed both sides to go away to work out the value of the work carried out so far and what remains to be done.
Mr Allen first took an action against the couple in June 2010 when he sued them for almost €36,000.
He received €13,000 from the couple, but claims he is still €23,000 out of pocket. Ms Healy-Eames and her husband have strongly rejected these figures.
The couple applied for planning permission in 2007 to knock down their home in Maree, Oranmore, and build a new house in its place.
Original plans for an adjacent garage were extended during construction to build a 400sq.ft meeting room.
Judge Gerald Keys adjourned the case given that there is no resolution of the dispute in sight.
He directed experts on both sides to go back out to the site in Oranmore and thrash out an agreement.
The judge asked for a report to be prepared on the work done to date and the value of that work, on the work outstanding and the value of that work, as well as on the remedial work carried out by other tradesmen.
The case has been listed again for 3 May if the matter has not been resolved by then.
