Helen McEntee, the justice minister, announced yesterday that she had secured support from her ministerial colleagues for legislation paving the way for the second phase of appointments recommended by the Judicial Planning Working Group last year.

Law Society president Barry MacCarthy said: “The Law Society welcomes the plans to appoint additional judges announced by the minister for justice this week.

“Having engaged with the Judicial Planning Working Group to highlight the need for more judges, and more diversity among our judges, this announcement is a positive step in the right direction.

“In this government and the next, continued attention must be focused on securing adequate resourcing for the courts. Without the provision of funding for more judges and courts staff, backlogs will continue to rise and access to justice will be delayed.”

He added: “The Family Courts Bill has the potential to transform the experience of children, survivors of domestic violence, and families who have no option but to access justice through the courts.

“The Law Society is encouraged that some of the planned judicial appointments will support the establishment of the family courts.

“This is an important piece of legislation that needs more resources to achieve its aims, and the Law Society will continue to engage with the Department of Justice to realise the potential for a courts system that puts families at its core.”