IT’S BAD enough that Alan Shatter is disrespecting the lawyers (they don’t appear to like the Minister for Justice very much, which some might say suggests he is doing something right) but our learned friends are in real big trouble now.

Senator Terry Leyden (FF) is on their case.

Here’s what he had to say in the Seanad about lawyers: “The Oireachtas is being billed for €2 million in respect of the hearings regarding Judge Brian Curtin. That is a scandal. It is about time we had a 90 per cent super-tax on the earnings of lawyers.

“It is absolutely outrageous how they are ripping off this country. I am aware that the deputy leader is some type of lawyer or professor of law. She may have a difficulty in denouncing her colleagues.”

Senator Ivana Bacik (Lab) wisely ignored Leyden’s suggestion and airy dismissal of her legal qualifications.

“I am rising above these comments,” she sniffed.

Perhaps she should have suggested a 90 per cent super-tax on senators.

That would have softened Terry’s cough.