Former Junior Minister Ivor Callely is to stand trial next March on charges of making bogus mobile phone expense claims.

The 55-year-old stood at the back of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court number 5 - wearing dark trousers, a grey jacket and striped tie when his case was called this morning.

The former Fianna Fail politician is facing 6 charges which allege that at Leinster House he used 6 invoices from 3 phone companies as false instruments for receipt of expenses for handsets and equipment.

The charges date from 2007 to 2009 when he was a member of the Seanad.

Mr. Callely, who has an address at St. Lawrence's Road in Clontarf, is to stand trial on March 24th next.

Judge Mary-Ellen Ring was told the case will last approximately two weeks.