The Gazette 1967/71

standing in the profession and throughout the country. His achievements have been many and varied. In the Solicitors Buildings alone in Dublin, increase in office space, staff and equipment under his direction has moved with the requirements and demands of the time. The maintenance of an efficient office which is as often used "by members for the solution of problems of a legal nature as for those of a professional nature is a reflection of the reputation earned by Mr. Plunkett and the reliance placed by members on his judgment. In the field of education and learning he piloted through the Council the revised system of examinations in 1960. Fully aware of the difficulties of keeping abreast of the Jaw he helped to herald the 1960s by arranging lectures and publications for practitioners. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that Mr. Plunkett's personality has been impressed upon the entire system of law in this country in relation to solicitors. The Solici– tors Act 1954 and 1960 and the various regulations made thereunder are now the Bible by which the profes– sion is governed. The patience, application and attention to detail that was necessary to have these measures implemented and made suitable for twentieth century conditions can be attested to by the Presidents who worked in conjunction with Mr. Plunkett during the period when these measures were being formulated into law. The members of the Council who have had an opportunity of accompanying Mr. Plunkett to foreign countries in connection with the Society's business have been greatly impressed by his reputation abroad. While those who led deputations to the Departments of State and other bodies to whom representations have been made over the years have relied completely upon his experience and expert advice. This year he has the honour of being President of the Association of Secretaries of European Bar Associations which is a tribute to his standing amongst his peers in Europe. The magnitude of the organisational work with which he has been associated will be once again revealed in July next year when the International Bar Association holds its biennial conference in Dublin. Each year at the half-yearly meeting and at the ordinary general meeting of the Society the President in his presidential address refers not as a matter of course or of courtesy but of recognition to the sterling work of Mr. Plunkett. In a position that calls for tact, firmness, frankness, discretion and integrity he has shown himself to be not only worthy of the esteem and reputa– tion which he has earned but also deserves the best thanks of all solicitors in Ireland for the diligence and fairness with which he has at all times acted since his appointment. Eric Plunkett was a contemporary of mine in LJ.C.D. many years ago and I am sure you will all join me in congratulating him in his twenty-fifth year of office and in wishing him many more years of fruitful work for the Society. Conclusion I personally cannot allow this occasion to pass without a special word of thanks to our assistant secretary, Mr. Tom Smyth, who has been of considerable assistance to me since taking office, and it is with regret that we have learned of his intended resignation as assistant secretary, but we shall have another occasion on which to express our gratitude to him. Finally I wish to thank my two Vice-Presidents,

Mr. Patrick Noonan and Mr. Augustus Cullen, for their valuable assistance to me during the past half year. Mr. Denis R. Peart gave a lecture on the work of a town agent which was followed by a discus– sion. Mr. R. McD. Taylor moved a vote of thanks to the President for his statement and for his services to the Society during the past six months. The motion was carried with acclamation. The proceedings then terminated.

TOWN AGENCY AND PRACTICE

At the half-yearly meeting held in Cork in May Mr. Denis R. Peart of Messrs John R. Peart and Son, Solicitors, 27 Upper Ormond Quay, Dublin, delivered a lecture on "Town Agency and Prac– tice". It was proposed to have Mr. Peart's notes available to members immediately after the meet– ing but the Society have decided that the lecture should take a more permanent form as one of the Modern Law Series publications. The publication will be on sale as soon as the author has made certain revisions and the printing arrangements have been carried through. In the May 1966 issue of the Gazette (Vol. 60, No. 1, p. 5), under the above heading members were informed as to the possibility of Irish solici– tors practising abroad. Conditions of admission as a legal practitioner in Western Australia have since changed. It appears from a memorandum received by the Society that the Barristers' Board would have jurisdiction to admit an Irish solicitor or barrister to practice in Western Australia if they are of opinion that he falls within section 15 (2) (c) of the Legal Practitioners Act, 1966. Thus a person admitted in a place where the system of jurisdiction administered is equivalent to or is substantially equivalent to the system of jurisprudence administered in Western Australia would be considered by the Board for admission. It is to be noted that one qualifies for admission as a barrister and solicitor (a "practitioner") and there is no legal division between the two branches of the profession, although it is often found that a practitioner tends to practise in one field or the other and a separate bar is now developing. RECIPROCITY IN PRACTICE