FF TD Byrne appears in court charged with drink driving

Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne has appeared at Dublin District Court charged with drink driving.

The Wicklow-Wexford TD was arrested on 28 May last while travelling from his hotel to Dublin Airport.

The case has been adjourned until 23 March next year for hearing.

He has not yet entered a plea.

He faces a charge stating that on 28 May at Pearse Street Garda Station, the concentration of alcohol in his urine was 156mg of alcohol per 100ml, exceeding the statutory limit of 67mg.

Mr Byrne attended court but did not speak during the brief hearing.

Judge Tom McSharry was told it was the first court appearance on the matter and he adjourned it for hearing next year.

His defence sought an order for disclosure of the prosecution's evidence.

Shortly after his arrest, the 52 year old from Ramsgate Village in Gorey, had confirmed that he was being investigated for drink driving and said he would cooperate fully with the process and that he had informed Fianna Fáil.

He later stepped down as Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence because of what he described as "the seriousness of the matter" and his respect for his fellow committee members.

At the time, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was a very serious issue and he awaited developments.

Asked if Mr Byrne would face political punishment if charged he would not "pre-empt the full facts".