Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The fact needs to be emphasised that there is a public perception that barristers are extremely well paid. A very small minority are extremely well paid; the vast majority are not. They struggle in the same way and, in fact, are in a life, no more than ourselves in politics but even to a greater extent, of precariousness. Barristers can work extremely hard unpaid hours on a case but by the time that case gets into court there are other things going on and they have to hand it over to someone else to collect fees. All of that needs to be considered here and respect given to the fact that they are the bulwark of the Constitution.