The challenge being taken by a non executive director of Independent News and Media against the €1.87m compensation package paid to former CEO Gavin O'Reilly will begin in the Commercial Court on June 6.
Paul Connolly is one of two directors on the board of INM representing Denis O'Brien.
He wants the court to declare the package unlawful because it was approved by the board without being put before the company's shareholders at a general meeting.
Lawyers for Mr Connolly asked the court to hear the matter before the end of the current legal term, which ends on May 24.
Barrister Rossa Fanning said he accepted the issues could not be addressed in time to be added to the agenda for the INM annual general meeting which takes place on June 8.
But he said Mr Connolly's re-election as a board member would be on the agenda at that meeting. And he said the majority of board members had indicated they would be opposing his re-election. He said their views might be coloured by the outcome of this litigation.
Lawyers for INM said that while they were anxious to have the matter dealt with quickly, they did not believe it had to be heard before the end of the legal term.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly said he was not convinced the case had the degree of urgency that was being urged on him by Mr Connolly's lawyers . He said the case could begin on June 6 and allocated three days for the hearing.
