Simon Harris confirmed in the Dáil that he had asked the Courts Service to prepare a report on the disparity in waiting times between districts for non-urgent family law domestic violence applications.

He had been challenged by Martin Kenny, Sinn Féin’s justice spokesperson, who said “staggering” waiting times were as long as 16 weeks in Trim and 14 weeks in Tullamore.

Mr Harris said urgent domestic violence interim applications are “dealt with immediately, that is, either on the same day or on the next sitting day in every district”. However, he acknowledged that waiting times for other domestic violence applications “vary across districts”.

The justice minister said he ordered the report to “get a real understanding of the disparity across the District Courts”.

“I look forward to receiving it so I can gain a full understanding of the issues,” he added.