The Gazette 1979

GAZETTE

SEPTEMBER 1979

11.7 The Committee being concerned about the continuing reliance of universities on a mechanical points system for entry qualification to Law Faculties has continued to explore the possibility of conducting an experimental programme in aptitude testing for university entrance similar to the American Law School Admission Test which would be used in conjunction with the points system to determine whether a student had a parti- cular aptitude, or signally failed to have a particular aptitude, for a particular course of study. 11.8 The Committee recommended the extension of the Society's continuing legal education programme which commenced in the autumn of 1979 and a training officer, Patrick Quinn, was appointed during the year. Already he has organised a further series of one-day courses in Blackhall Place which have been well attended and it is proposed in 1980 to try to arrange to hold similar courses in venues outside Dublin. 11.9 The major task now facing this Committee is the preparation of the first advanced course which is due to commence in 1981. The experience gained in running the first professional course has been of enormous value to the Committee in planning for this course. 11.10 The great thanks of the profession are due to all the members of the profession and contributors from outside the profession who participated in the first professional course. The willingness with which busy practitioners have responded to requests to participate, on a few occasions at particularly short notice, has been remarkable. 11.11 The full-time staff of the Law School, Professors Woulfe and Sweeney and Misses Hegarty and Pearse, worked extraordinarily long hours to ensure the success of the first course and a particular tribute must be made to Professor Sweeney on whom devolved, during the two-month absence through illness of Professor Woulfe, the burden of carrying through the course. The fact that it was possible to carry on the course successfully in the absence of Professor Woulfe is a tribute not only to the other full-time members of the Law School staff but also to the preparation and organisation for the course which had already been laid down by Professor Sweeney. 11.12 Brendan Twomey, Education Officer, left us during the summer to go into private practice and we wish him success and thank him for his work during the year. We appointed Nicholas Moore as his successor and all indications are that we have been fortunate enough to acquire a worthy successor to Harry Sexton and Brendan Twomey in this position. 12.1 E.E.C.: The Committee has continued its work of monitoring the progress of Directives of particular interest to the profession and its clients but we note that in many instances progress has been so slow as to be imperceptible. Clearly there are political considerations involved but those of us who are committed , to the ideal of greater uniformity in the legal systems of the E.E.C. members cannot but be disappointed at the slow progress being made. Directive on freedom to provide occasional services by lawyers: This Directive was implemented in this country by S.I. No. 58 made on 1 March 1979. The changes made have not yet had any significant practical repercussions here but will undoubtedly begin to appear over the next few years as lawyers throughout the E.E.C. become aware of their rights. Establishment: Following on from the Directive on Occasional Services the Commission Consultative has taken up actively the question of a Directive on Freedom of Establishment and considerable progress has been made. While this report is being prepared, the Commission is meeting in Madrid and hopefully will reach an agreed common position on the controls needed to permit full freedom of establishment within the nine countries. Commission Consultative: During the year Gerard J. Moloney retired from his position as our representative on the Commission and his place has been taken by Raymond T. Monahan. My Committee and I wish to place on record our profound gratitude for the wonderful work done by Mr. Moloney. He has devoted himself unstintingly to the task of representing us on this most important body; it is thanks to him 163 12.2 12.3 12.4

E.E.C AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Joseph L. Dundon

Chairman

Raymond J. Monahan

Vice-Chairman

Anthony E. Collins John G. Fish Brendan A. McGrath Gerald J. Moloney Laurence K. Shields Andrew F. Smyth

Joseph L. Dundon Chairman