The Gazette 1979

SEPTEMBER 1979

GAZETTE

financial stability, which existed before we assumed the massive expenses involved in the very necessary and totally successful move to Blackhall Place. To achieve this it is proposed we keep our accounts on at least a break-even basis, that is to say, we may go into overdraft during the course of a year but there should be no term loans and the assets of the Society should be unencumbered. 7.10 Because of the fine work which has been done by the Registrar's Committee and Compensation Fund Committee under Tom Shaw, with the very able assistance of P. J. Connolly and Martin Healy, the Finance Committee has taken the view that, for the coming year, the compensation fund contribution can be reduced. This has enabled us, without substantially increasing the overall contribution payable to members, to plan to make over the next two years, a significant inroad on the size of the debt overhanging the Society, to such an extent that on projected figures, the Chairman of this Committee in three years' time should be able to say to you that the Society has reached the equilibrium for which we are seeking and that thereafter, assuming our more expansionist Council members can be kept under control, there should be no capital expenditure of any substantial nature in the foreseeable future. This should enable us from that time on to keep subscriptions to a level which will increase only by the inflation index. The Retirement Pension Scheme goes from strength to strength. You will receive a circular shortly which will set out the present status of the scheme, but given the tax advantages involved, it seems to me that all of our members who can afford to do so, should be a member of some pension scheme and having analysed the matter from a personal viewpoint, I have come down in favour of the Law Society's scheme: I can say no more! 7.12 Professional indemnity insurance has not been made compulsory but the world- wide movement is in this direction. Any solicitor who practises without professional indemnity insurance is, in my opinion, very foolish. The experience, where compulsory insurance has been brought in, is that the cost to every member goes up substantially. Accordingly, I would suggest, to those members who have not insurance, that they would be saving, not only themselves but all their colleagues, expense if they voluntarily took out insurance. I have had the privilege to chair a committee of my mentors: to them my thanks, as also to Jim Ivers, Director-General, and P. J. Connolly, Director of Finance. 7.11 7.13

8.1

Period: 1st September 1978 to 2nd October 1979:

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

Meetings held

20 34

*

—-

8.2

New applications

r . . . ~ . Gerard M. Doyle ,

Dealt with as follows:

.

Chairman

(a) No prima facie case found (b) Prima facie case found ( c ) Cases not yet processed

5

Thomas Bacon James R. c. Green Patrick n'JUm™ Roderick O'Connor Frank O'Donnell Brian Russell Robert McD. Taylor

22

2

( d) C a s e s P ? s t P ° n e d

4

( e ) Applications not properly before Committee

1

13 cases from the preceding period were struck out in the period under review.

_

. ,

8.3 At hearing: (a) Findings of misconduct (b) Findings of no misconduct (c) Withdrawn before hearing

10

^ ^ j y 1

^

9

,

1

jgk

1

Adjourned generally

2

(e) Adjourned

4 2

(0 Awaiting hearing

i

8.3

Cases presented to High Court

15

The outcome was: (a) Suspension from practice (to be reviewed)

2

^fi-g

J B

(c) At present before Court (d) Costs awarded to Society (e) Adjourned generally

2 7

Gerard M. Doyle Chairman

2 159