A working group established to investigate the efficiency of courts system is staging a two-day conference in Dublin today.
The group's work is the first thorough investigation of the courts system since soon after the foundation of the State more than 80 years ago.
The conference will look into the operation of the courts and assess whether or not their structure is delivering justice efficiently and economically.
Today's conference opening is being chaired by Chief Justice Ronan Keane and scheduled to hear contributions from senior legal figures and others with an interest in the application of the law from both sides of the Border, Britain and Europe.
The working group has been briefed to seek submissions from groups and individuals as well as authorities and academic institutions from at home and abroad.
Next year it will present a report to Mr Justice Keane and Courts Service Board after studying criminal and civil law issues and any changes to the structure of the courts that might be considered necessary.
When the working group was appointed, the chief justice said its objectives should be to provide the citizen "with a system of civil and criminal justice that is accessible to all and which functions in a manner that is impartial, open and expeditious".
He pointed to the perceived inefficiency of the current system, where it was felt scarce resources were not best used, judges and staff worked long into the evening to keep up with an ever-expanding and complex case-load, and the public were asked to wait long periods for certain types of cases to be heard.
The last time such a complete investigation of the Irish courts was held was in 1923, and a subsequent report led to a court set-up a year later that has remained basically unchanged since that date.
PA