The Gazette 1952-1955

Vol. 48 No. 4

August, 1954

THE GAZETTE ofthe INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY OF IRELAND

President J oseph B arrett

Vice-Presidents J ohn J. N ash J ohn R. H alpin

Secretary Etuc A. P lunkett

FOR CIRCULATION AMONG MEMBERS

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. 22 nd J uly : The President in the Chair. Also present; Messrs. John J. Nash and John R. Halpin, Vice-Presidents; Desmond J . Collins, John F. 1 Foley, Henry St. J. Blake, Denis Greene, Derrick M. Martin, Patrick R. Boyd, Reginald J. Nolan, John J. Sheil, Francis J. Lanigan, Ralph j. Walker, James R. Quirke, Cornelius J. Daly, William J. Norman, Francis J. Gearty, John Maher, Thomas A. O’Reilly, James J. O’Connor, Joseph P. Tyrrell, Desmond J. Mayne, George A. Nolan, Nathaniel Lacy, Patrick F. O’Reilly, John Carrigan. Revised Scale o f Counsels’ Fees. T he Council considered on a report from a Com­ mittee the revised scale o f Counsels’ fees in the Circuit and District Courts published in the Irish Law Titties and Solicitors ’ Journal o f 22nd May, and decided to ask that the matter should be considered by the joint Committee o f the Bar Council and the Society. The following was among the business transacted :

Client’s Privilege. A m e m b e r acted for a client who expected to be summoned as a witness to give evidence for the State against a person charged with fraudulent conversion o f monies. Member who had knowledge o f the facts in his professional capacity also expected to be summoned as a witness. The client did not wish that member should testify and member asked whether in the opinion of th e ' Council he was precluded from giving evidence by reason o f the client’s privilege. The evidence required related to the stamping o f a deed which had been given to the accused for the purpose o f being stamped, and which had afterwards been stamped by member. The Council were o f opinion that on the facts stated, no question o f privilege arose, but that member if summoned to testify ought to raise the question o f privilege for decision by the judge. Solicitors’ Bill. T he President reported that a deputation from the Council had been received by An Taoiseach, as acting Minister for Justice, and had submitted a memorandum on various points outstanding between the Department and the Society in connection with 27