Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

All the witnesses spoke about diversity. I think we have to widen that issue out and not just in terms of gender. My first question concerns public perception of the legal profession, the Law Library and judicial appointments, which is that it is a strong, class-based system from which certain people are excluded.

It is interesting that Dr. Carroll MacNeill mentioned Australia. A friend of mine emigrated there 26 years ago. He is a brilliant educationalist, from a low income family. He tried to get into the Law Library but doors were banged in his face. He then emigrated to Australia with his wife and three children. Within six months he was a practising solicitor and within ten years he was a judge. He always says it is a closed-shop back in Ireland and there is elitism here.

I am talking about 26 years ago, but is that still the case here in 2014? Is it still the case that people from working class backgrounds and low income families face major barriers when it comes to getting up the legal profession ladder?