Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

It is many years since it became clear that not just the Mahon tribunal but other tribunals were making far more new millionaires than there were old millionaires being investigated. What we had yesterday from the Tánaiste in particular and also from the Taoiseach is an exercise in the most monumental hypocrisy.

We pointed out many years ago in the Dáil the incredible level of fees which lawyers were able to command at will. Who are the lawyers but the friends of the Tánaiste himself? In other words, it is the very system he has been part of for decades that has seen him make a very good career for himself and his friends. At the same time, it has put the law in this country out of the reach of ordinary working people.

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