I have always felt that the wearing of wigs and gowns in the Four Courts is a little peculiar for a Republic. It is, perhaps, something we inherited from the British. There may be a reason to maintain some distinction in regard to judges but I am not sure the same argument can be made for barristers. A colleague in the shipping business involved in a civil court case in Holland a number of years ago following a shipping accident here told me he met with the judge in a canteen before the trial. The case was heard by the judge in very modern surroundings. He found it a much better way of dealing with the judicial system and was impressed by it. Perhaps we should examine how we do things here in that regard and see what we can learn from it.