The Chief Justice says there needs to be more ethics in business. Susan Denham was responding to the annual report of the Courts Service which shows a 50% increase in restriction orders made against company directors.

In a hard-hitting speech she described the 'trail of devastation' seen in our courts following the transition from 'boom to bust'.

She said that "ethics in the board room and in the governance of enterprises, rather than a constant eye on the needs of the shareholders, is the way forward to building trust in our economic sector: to build trust in Ireland as a place to do business".

"Knowing what is the right thing to do in a situation and then doing it, comes from exercising self-awareness, personal integrity and often no small amount of courage" she added.

Some of the other key findings of the report include a 32% increase in the number of new rape cases dealt with in 2012 and a 20% drop in murder cases.

A fifth more domestic violence cases came before the courts last year, while there were less public order and drug offence cases.

It also shows that the courts cost 41% less over 5 years and that there has also been a drop in the number of debt cases with a 30% decrease in judgments sought.

Meanwhile judicial review of asylum matters decreased by 37%. And there was €112 million awarded in personal injury and medical negligence cases in the High and Circuit courts.

Helen Priestley is Head of Information at the Courts Service. She says justice is being handled in a leaner but more efficient way.