The Gazette 1979

SEPTEMBER 1979

GAZETTE

emotional tensions in the home may reasonably be suspected. Doctors finding marks of injury on children or signs of emotional withdrawal should be alert to the possibility of serious difficulties in the home background. Again, neighbours noticing children being left unkept and unattended to and roaming around the streets might reasonably fear that things are not right within the home. In cases like that it may not simply be the children alone that need attention. The family as a group may be in difficulties and in urgent need of help. Secondly, I would like to see the present Children Acts updated as soon as possible to facilitate action being taken to protect children at risk. In particular I would like the welfare of children to be dealt with by reference to the social problems involved rather than by reference to offences against or by children in the 1908 Act. A special Task Force is at present working on' a review of the Children Acts. It is important that the procedures for taking children into immediate protective care pending their being brought before the Court should be simplified to permit instant removal of a child as a temporary measure from the home in which he is believed to be at immediate risk. I would also like to see the grounds upon which Fit Person Orders may be granted re-defined in a simpler way so that a child at risk may be more readily protected. I realise one must move with caution when considering statutory interference with parental rights which are so highly regarded in our Irish way of life and which, indeed, are specially recognised in our Constitution. But parents have obligations as well as rights. Where there is a serious breakdown in the discharge of these obligations, and the cases I have been talking about in this paper flow from such a breakdown, we should be quick to recognise that the children have rights also and we should be just as zealous, if not more zealous, in defending their rights when the denial of them leads to the children being physically or emotionally damaged.

INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION Seminar on Extraterritorial Problems in Insolvency Proceedings held in London in April 1978 Topics: The debtor's assets situated abroad in domestic bankruptcy; Composition and discharge in international insolvency cases. Professor Hans Hanisch, Geneva University With comments from lawyers from France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, UK and US, and the European Commission. Bound volumes of the papers are now available: Price (to include postage and packing). IBA members — S 15.00. Non-IBA members — $25.00. Applications to the International Bar Association, Byron House, 7-9, St. James's Street, London SW1A 1EE.

SOLICITOR A YOUNG SOLICITOR is required by the Electricity Supply Board for the Legal Services Division of the Secretary's Organisation at Head Office, Dublin. This Division works closely with the Board's Solicitors, Messrs. Arthur Cox & Co.

I NCOR P ORAT ED LAW SOCI ETY OF I RELAND The Succession Act 1965 by William J. McGu i re The above book was published by the Society in 1968 and has been out of print for some time. The Sucicty now proposes publishing a 2nd revised edition. Applications would be welcomed for the position of Associate F-'ditor of the revised edition and should be addressed to:— I lie Director General. The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. Blackball Mace, Dublin 7.

EXPERIENCE:

Applicants should have at least three year's experience as a Solicitor in general practice.

SALARY:

Starting salary will hav regard to experience and qualifications and will be in a Scale rising to £9,620 per annum.

BENEFITS:

The full range of personnel benefits are available including a Contributory Superannuation Scheme and a Medical Provident Fund.

Application forms may be obtained from: Recruitment Administration, E.S.B. Head Office, Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2.

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