A report published today has described the Irish family law system as shambolic and overcrowded.
Dr Carol Coulter's report also said it was remarkable that the system worked at all.
45 recommendations have been made on how to improve the Irish family law system.
The report details a pilot project to examine family court proceedings without identifying participants.
Dr Coulter criticised the lack of planning that had been applied to the area of family law, adding that capabilities were being fully utilised.
Dr Coulter recommended that judges engage in more training and are assigned to family law circuits for defined periods so that judicial expertise and consistency can be developed.
She also said in her view fathers often do receive custody of their children, which is contrary to the belief held by some lobby groups.
Dr Coulter said the Government should legislate to set up a dedicated, full-time family court division of the Circuit Court.
She also said that better mediation services could prevent much of the protracted court proceedings.
The Courts Service, which commissioned the report, has pledged to implement all of the recommendations. It said it intends to continue the pilot project for another year with a panel of family law reporters.
