Alan Shatter's reforms: Wheels of justice set to roll again but still need oiling

As another legal year begins, Kyran Fitzgerald looks at the impact of reforms pursued during Alan Shatter’s tenure as justice minister and outlines remaining bugbears.

The country’s courts are never fully idle, but the legal system goes into a form of hibernation in late summer.

In a week’s time, however, the lawyers will return from their vacation refreshed, litigants will foregather and another legal year will begin.