In comments reported by The Irish Times, Judge John Campbell, of Dublin District Court, told a conference on domestic violence and child protection that there should be “compulsory” or “mandatory” legal aid payments in those cases.

“There are strict requirements for meeting the threshold for legal aid and the working poor very often will lose out,” he said.

“That hampers the safe procedure of the case. They have the difficulties of having to take time off work, of having to pay a solicitor. There should be mandatory legal aid for these people. These are a vulnerable cohort.”

The judge also suggested that the proposed dedicated family courts complex at Hammond Lane could be detrimental for some court users, especially children and parents.

“I know politicians believe it is a good idea but in practice I don’t believe it is necessarily beneficial for the cohort of clients we deal with,” he said.