The Gazette 1952-1955

way commit The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.’ “ When I addressed you last May at the half yearly Meeting, I spoke at some length on the education o f our apprentices, and I do not now propose to reiterate what I said then, but there is one matter, which I did not mention, but which is o f vital concern to all apprentices. I refer to the Legal Practitioner’s Qualification Act, 1929. As you probably know, the substance o f the Act is that no person may be bound as an apprentice until he has passed a first examination in Irish, the standard o f which examination has been based on that of the Leaving Certificate or open Matriculation exam­ ination, and before any person can be admitted to the Roll o f Solicitors, a second examination must be passed, and that standard means, quoting the ipsissima verba o f the Act ‘ such a degree o f oral and written proficiency in the use o f the language as is sufficient to enable a legal practitioner effec- tiently to receive instructions, to advise clients, to examine witnesses and to follow proceedings in the Irish language.’ I refer to this Act with a certain diffidence and reluctance, but I feel that the time has come to review its effects. I do not wish for a moment to denigrate or to discourage an interest in the Irish language, but I do feel, in fact I know that the Act has not worked as it was hoped for or intended. I can assure you that the requirements of the Act have been observed by this Society with the utmost conscience, but I must say, because I know it is the truth that there are to-day literally hundreds o f solicitors of the younger generation, who, if I may use a slang expression ‘ couldn’t care less ’ about the language. They were forced to study a certain subject during their formative years, and because it was compulsory, and to many of them appeared otiose, once they achieved the required standard, they quickly lost all interest and almost deliberately endeavoured to forget what they had learned. No, if the language is to be encouraged, its learning must be put on a truly voluntary basis. I venture to say that if an Act was passed giving solicitors, o f say not more than seven years standing, and who could satisfy the authorities o f a certain degree o f proficiency in the language, and having acquired that standard of knowledge could receive some public or statutory privilege, there would, within a very few years, be a far larger number of bi-lingual solicitors and real enthusiasts for the language. “ The Act to which I have just referred, although passed in 1929, did not, in fact, become operative until the year 1932, because it applied only to persons who were under the age o f 15 years on the 1st October, 1929, and the average age o f intending apprentices was and still is 18 years. In the year

1865 it was decided that candidates for the Final examination who obtained 85 per cent, or more of the maximum marks should receive a gold medal; those who achieved a standard o f 75 per cent., but less than 85 per cent, a silver medal and those who obtained 70 per cent, o f the marks but less than 75'per cent, a special certificate. Between the years 19 11 and 1931, that is a period o f twenty years immediately preceding the working o f the Act, 27 gold medals were awarded ; 58 silver medals and 87 special certificates. Between the years 1932 and 1952, no gold medals were awarded, 33 silver medals were awarded and special certificates were given to 42 candidates. Those figures must speak tor themselves, and I am satisfied that the principal cause o f the all-round deterioration is the immense amount of extra work devolving on apprentices in connection with the Irish language, and thereby depriving them o f the time that used to be devoted to the purely legal subjects. “ Since I last had the pleasure o f addressing you a Courts o f Justice Bill has been published, and it is now going through its Parliamentary stages, and should be enacted very soon. I think you will agree that its main provisions are acceptable to out- profession. We welcome the section dealing with the appointment o f an additional Lligh Court Judge. That should go a fair way to relieving the delay in the hearing of High Court actions. Again, we cannot disagree with the provisions for the increase in the jurisdiction o f the Circuit and District Courts. This is merely taking cognisance o f the change— and what a change, in the value o f money since the passing o f the Courts o f Justice Act in 1924. We are glad to note that the Minister does not propose to reduce the number of Circuits, as was originally provided for in the Bill. We did oppose that reduction very strongly, and we are grateful to the Minister for not proceeding with the change as originally contemplated. Finally, we are not unnaturally pleased that under this Bill it is provided that the Law Society shall have two nominees on the Superior Courts Rules Committee. “ I wish I could speak with the same incandescence about our own Bill, but alas, I have little if anything to add to my remarks on the last occasion. All we do know is that the Bill is at present before the Govern­ ment, and has been printed. We understand that in due course, the Government will let us have their observations, but when, in fact, we shall receive an official communication, I just cannot say. As you know we regard its passing as a matter of the greatest urgency, not only in the. interests o f the Profession, but equally in the public interest, and I think that if we do not receive irt the near future from the Government, some assurance of their intention to have it introduced in Parliament, we