The Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeal are to sit in September in an effort to ease pressure on the overburdened court system, according to the Irish Times.

Waiting times for the Supreme Court currently run up to 4 years, while the Court of Appeal can see waiting times of 15 months.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said the decision would “alleviate the delays and help to ensure that citizens’ right of access to justice is upheld”.

The plan for sitting sin September is seen as an “interim measure to lessen delays”, according to Mrs Justice Denham. She added that the reducing of delays would “ensure that citizens’ right of access to justice is upheld”.