The Gazette 1978

OCTOBER 1978

GAZETTE

10.11 The official opening of Blackhall Place and the manner in which it was conducted was something that the Society can look back on with pride and one must feel that the name of Moya Quinlan will always be remembered, for many of the beautiful features and furnishings of our magnificent building. 10.12 As in the past, relations with the English, Scottish and Northern Ireland Law Societies are constantly improving. A number of our members went to the International Bar Association in Australia, ably led by our President. It has infiltrated from down under that he and his wife hosted the most enjoyable social function of the whole congress and that he was the most talented individual performer and did the finest international public relations job of the year. 10.13 Sincere thanks to the Director General and the administration staff for all their help and assistance during the year without which the communications from the Bar Associations, Government Departments, media and other areas could not have been related to this Committee — and above all to the members of this Committee for their voluntary help, my grateful appreciation. 11.1 This is a Statutory Committee appointed by the President of the High Court under Section 6 (1) of Part III of the Solicitors Act 1960 and consists of Members of the Council and such former Members of the Council as are practising as solicitors consisting of not less than seven and not more than ten persons. 11.2 The Committee's main function is to hold on application by the Society, or another person, an inquiry into the conduct of a solicitor on the ground of misconduct ("misconduct" is defined by Section 3 of the Solicitors Act 1960), first having considered the application as to whether a prima facie case has been established for such an inquiry. 11.3 If there is no prima facie case then the Committee informs the applicant and no further action is taken. 11.4 If a prima facie case is made the Committee proceeds to hold an enquiry and subsequently report to the High Court, specifying therein the nature of the application and the evidence laid before them and any other matters in relation to the solicitor which they may think fit to report, including their opinion as to the fitness or otherwise of the solicitor to be a member of the solicitor's profession, having regard to the contents of the report. The High Court after consideration of the report may, inter alia: (i) strike the name of the solicitor off the roll; (ii) suspend the solicitor from practice for such period as it may fix; (iii) censure the solicitor, or censure him and impose a money penalty. 11.5 All the powers and functions of the Committee are set out in Part III of the Solicitors Act 1960 and the Rules as to procedures in relation to the Disciplinary Committee are contained in the Solicitors (Disciplinary Committee) Rules 1961, S.I. No. 30 of 1961. 11.6 Since 30 September 1977 the Disciplinary Committee met twenty-three times. New cases commenced after 30 September 1977 42 Of the 42 new applications: (a) No prima facie case decided 23 (b) Prima facie case found 13 (c) Cases not processed 6 11.7 Of the cases at hearing: (a) Findings of misconduct 9 (b) Findings of no misconduct 10 (c) Withdrawn before hearing 2 (d) Adjourned generally 2 (e) Adjourned 4

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

Gerard M. Doyle

Chairman

Thomas Bacon James R. C. Green Thomas Jackson Francis Lanlgan Patrick C. Moore Patrick Noonan Roderick O'Connor Robert McD. Taylor

Gerard M. Doyle, Chairman

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