The Gazette 1978

OCTOBER 1978

GAZETTE

2.4 Here it must be stated that the completion of the project would not have been possible without the practical help of the Society's bankers, the Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin 2, and the generous support of the profession. To date £384,000 has been pledged by way of gifts, loan or bond and £201,000 actually paid. A further £250,000 is required and a concentrated effort is now being made to raise this sum. The Council appreciates that a significant proportion of the profession is less than ten years qualified, and faces major financial commitments on the domestic as well as the business front. Nevertheless, it hopes that over the next three to five years such members will be in a position to make some contribution, possibly by way of participation in the bond scheme. It is only in this way that substantial interest payments will be avoided. 2.5 Apart from the work in Blackhall Place, over the summer months, the Council arranged for a redecoration of that part of the Four Courts premises remaining in the Society's possession. As part of the scheme of redecoration, arrangements have been made to provide a room for the exclusive use of the members. Efforts are also being made to improve the telephone service. 2.6 Education: During the year the Education Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. Maurice Curran continued to build towards the introduction of the new scheme in February 1979. The recruitment of Professor Richard Woulfe in May 1978 as Director of Education was a major achievement in that direction. 2.7 In January 1978 the Council adopted a memorandum prepared by the Education Committee on the procedure for future educational programmes. In March 1978 the Council authorised the holding of a press conference on the new programme and this was held on April 11th. The 31st August 1978 saw the last enrolments under the old system of apprenticeship. Since then, the Committee has been testing its ideas for the new programme under field conditions through the holding of one-day refresher seminars based on that programme and manned by the class leaders. 2.8 Legal Costs: In this area, the Council must report that the year was a most unsatisfying one. In March 1978 the National Prices Commission presented its further report on the Society's second submission on Court Costs and on the General Order. Following this report, the appropriate rules were eventually made by the Statutory Rules Committees. In turn these were queried by the Department of Justice. Following several personal letters from the President, the Minister for Justice received a deputation from the Society on 19th September 1978 when the altogether unsatisfactory situation was reviewed. As a result, it is hoped that progress will be made towards a solution of the problem in the near future. In the meantime, the Society has been in correspondence with the N.P.C. on the possibility of achieving a less cumbersome system of reviewing non- indexed costs. 2.9 Restrictive Practices: At the request of the Council, the Society's Conveyancing Committee and Public Relations Committee have been examining the overall position and preparing the Society's submission to the Restrictive Practices Commission on: (i) The nature and extent of competition in the carrying on of conveyancing for gain with particular reference to the effects on the competition of legal requirements restricting the provision of this service; (ii) how the prohibition on advertising by solicitors affects competition by solicitors. It is anticipated that the public hearing will not take place until 1979. In the meantime much requires to be done in the way of research and a review by members of their attitude to these vital matters. 2.10 Lending Institutions: No progress was made during the year on the outstanding matter of the manner in which funds are debited and credited to accounts under the arrangements adopted by the Associated Banks for processing computerised accounts. A meeting with the Irish Banks Standing Committee is scheduled for October 1978. 2.11 Parliamentary Affairs: The Committee's report will show that much of the year was taken up with consideration and representation regarding the Ground Rents Bills. It is gratifying to report that the Council was thanked by the Department of Justice for its assistance in a very difficult area. On the other side of the coin, the Council learnt with regret, that pressure of E.E.C. and other business will not allow the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy to proceed at this stage with the long awaited overhaul of the Companies Acts. As part of its on-going review of general matters, the Council following discussion with the Stationery Office, made representations to an Tanaiste and 155