Lack of media coverage has meant that little is known about the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, according to the Irish judge on the court, Aindrias Ó Caoimh.
Speaking yesterday at the Humbert-Davitt summer school, Mr Ó Caoimh said that even members of the legal community were often unaware of where the court sat.
He said that in other member states, people could become members of the court without having been practising lawyers in their own countries, and often were academics or politicians. "This is part of its strength."
He said that recently a case had been heard involving insolvency that had been referred by the Irish Supreme Court. The decision has yet to be given.
"No member of the Irish press attended the hearing," he said.
"There is a need to be aware of the influence of Europe on a day-to-day basis, not just when referendums are coming up."
Seán Boyne, political editor of the Sunday World, presented the Humbert-Davitt Justice Medal to the five sisters and partner of Robert McCartney, who was fatally stabbed outside a Belfast bar in January this year.
Presenting the medal at the school's annual dinner last night, Mr Boyne said: "Robert McCartney's sisters Catherine, Paula, Donna, Clare and Gemma, and his partner Bridgeen, have never wavered in their quiet, steadfast determination to see justice."
Mr McCartney's killing might have been forgotten had it not been for their campaign, which was not for revenge, but for due process in a court of law, he said.
He said their campaign had huge significance in that it had accelerated the IRA decision to declare the war over.
The dinner was attended by Independent TDs Marian Harkin and Catherine Murphy, who earlier in the week pulled out of a debate on the role of Independents because of the withdrawal of the invitation to their colleague Jerry Cowley.
The director of the school, John Cooney, said he had also invited Dr Cowley to the dinner. However, it is understood he is away on holiday.