However the speedy resolution of the case highlights the benefits of having a commercial court, according to one of the litigation partners involved.

Alison Fanagan of A&L Goodbody told the Sunday Tribune that this case would once have "disappeared into the great abyss" of the Irish legal system.

"The fact that you have a specific judge managing the cases and the rules are that much tighter means things can be done a lot more efficiently, " she said.

'This particular case was brought to the Commercial Court on 26 July last year. Six-and-a-half months is a very quick turnaround time to get a full hearing when you take into account that the courts were closed for twoand-a-half months during the summer.

If other Irish commercial disputes can be dealt with in such a fast and efficient way in the future, it will continue to prove beneficial to the Irish legal system."

The commercial court first opened for business in January 2004 as a division of the High Court. The average case duration is now 18 weeks compared to 18 months for most other High Court business. Opportunities for deliberately delaying proceedings have been virtually eliminated.

"There is far more sharing of documents and information and so the trial by ambush element is pretty much removed, " said Fanagan.

However one drawback of the efficiency means that costs are incurred at the one time.

"It can be difficult for smaller firms to resource that cost. You need at least two solicitors and barristers working flat-out for four months, " she said.