Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

What do we know of the Tánaiste? In his three years as Attorney General, five years as the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and, decades previously, time in the Four Courts representing his clients whenever he managed to take the silver spoon or silver foot out of his mouth, he commanded massive fees. We did not hear a peep about the ruinous cost of fees not only to tribunals, but to ordinary working people who are priced out of getting justice because of the greed emanating from certain sections of the barrister class.

With a brass neck, the Tánaiste appeared to be posturing as a defender of the taxpayer last week. We know the sight of cameras and microphones triggers seismic tremors deep in the Tánaiste's psyche——

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