The sixth regular evaluation report from the 47-nation Council of Europe’s European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (known by its French acronym, CEPEJ) on the efficiency and quality of justice across Europe found disproportionately high spending in Northern Ireland on legal aid and the judiciary.

The implemented budget of legal aid per capita in Northern Ireland was €73.53 in 2014, compared to €38.14 in England & Wales, €33.28 in Scotland, €18.45 in Ireland and a Europe-wide average of €8.64.

Northern Ireland also allocated €144 per capita to the judicial system in 2014, the highest figure recorded apart from Switzerland. This compares to €92 in England & Wales, €78 in Scotland, €48 in Ireland and a Europe-wide average of €60.

The figure for Northern Ireland has increased (from €119 per capita) since 2012, whereas the figures for England & Wales (previously €103), Scotland (€84) and Ireland (€50) – as well as the overall average (€65) – have all decreased.

In Northern Ireland, the average gross salaries of Supreme Court judges were 8.3 times the national average salary - the highest ratio in any European country bar Ukraine.

This compares to a figure of 7.7 for England & Wales, 7.4 for Scotland and a Europe-wide average of 4.5.

Overall, the study found an upward trend regarding the budget of judicial systems in Europe.

While certain countries affected by the economic crisis (e.g. Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia) have been able once again to increase their expenditure, others (e.g. Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain) continue to undergo regular budget cuts.