The Justice Minister is defending his role in reforming the courts structure, saying there is no threat to the independence of the system.

Minister Alan Shatter was responding to criticism from Justice Peter Kelly over the weekend.

Mr. Justice Kelly said the Irish judicial system is being demolished brick by brick with cuts to judges pay and the establishment of new courts.

Minister Shatter claims he is certain Justice Kelly did not intend to say our courts are anything other than independent.

Speaking this morning Mr. Shatter said he understood reform can be difficult but insisted multi-nationals considering establishing bases here are not given the wrong impression.

"In dealing with multi-national companies settling in Ireland, creating jobs in Ireland - a very important issue is the rule of law, an independent judiciary, a court system that can resolve commercial disputes without any suggestion of any govenrment interference" he said.

"I think unfortunetly on occasion people may use words that have unintended consequences" he added.

While the Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte has said this afternoon that it is never the intention of the State to infringe on the independence of the  judiciary.

Minister Shatter said there is no question of any change to the integrity of the courts process.