The Gazette 1979

GAZETTE

JULY-AUGUST

1979

General Meeting of the Society held in the Great SouthernHotel, Galway, on Friday, 3rd May, 1979

Education Programme, and the reception of the first batch of students who will receive the benefit of education under the new system. Before leaving the subject of education, I should like to point out that the Society has now introduced a series of Seminars for Solicitors on various aspects of law, including Labour Law, Consumer Law and Convey- ancing. A Training Officer is now being recruited to develop fully the area of continuing legal education for the Profession, and in particular to organise appropriate Seminars in provincial centres as well as in the Dublin area. A further matter which may arise in relation to the question of continuing legal education is the provision of a set of courses dealing with the financial management of practices. I propose suggesting to the Education and Public Relations Committee that they consider the organisation of appropriate Seminars dealing with this area, which is becoming of increasingly great importance to the Profession in view of the staggering increase in overheads of all kinds. Solicitors' costs With regard to the vexed question of costs awarded in respect of ligitation in the High Court, Circuit Court and District Court, the Council of the Profession has been very concerned at the failure of various Government Agencies to approve appropriate increases in the level of this remuneration since 1975. It is becoming increasingly clear that unless substantial increases are approved immediately, the Profession is going to have to point out to all litigants, or potential litigants, that even if they are successful, they cannot hope to be fully indemnified on taxation in respect of their costs. It is particularly unfortunate that the appropriate increases have not yet been approved, while at the same time, the Profession has had to accept very substantial increases in remuneration for Law Clerks, through the Law Clerks Joint Labour Committee. Contributors to this issue Mary P. McAleese, Reid Professor of Criminal Law, T.C.D. Liam T. Cosgrave, Auditor, Solicitors' Apprentices' Debating Society of Ireland, 94th session. E. Rory O'Connor, Law Agent, Allied Irish Banks. Harry Sexton, Solicitor, former Education Officer with the Law Society, now practising in Co. Mayo.

The meeting was called to order by the President, Mr. Gerald Hickey, at 9.45 a.m. The list of members present is recorded in the Attendance Book. The Director General, Mr. James J. Ivers, was also in attendance. Welcome The President then introduced Mr. B. Claffey, President, Galway Bar Association to the Meeting. Mr. ClafTey said it was an honour for him to be able to wel- come the members of the Society to Galway and ex- pressed the hope that the Conference would be success- ful, especially as the programme seemed most interesting. Also, he was very pleased to have the opportunity of welcoming the representatives of the Law Society, the Law Society of Scotland and the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland. Notice of the Meeting The Director General pointed out that due to the postal strike it was not possible to publish the customary Notice. Advertisements had been placed in the public press specifying the date, venue and time of the meeting. This was accepted as adequate notice. Minutes As the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 24th November, 1978, were published in the Gazette, they were taken as read, adopted and signed by the President. Appointment of Scrutineers The following were unanimously appointed scrutineers for the elections to the Council on 15th November, 1979: Laurence Branigan, Eunan McCarron, Alexander McDonald, Brendan McCormack, Roderick Tierney. President's address The President of the Society, Mr. Gerald Hickey, then delivered his Presidential Address as follows:- Firstly, I would like to express my warm appreciation to Mr. Brian Claffey for his very kind welcome to us all in the West of Ireland on the occasion of the Society's Annual Conference. I hope that the Conference will contain something of interest to you all in professional terms, and that in addition, the social events will provide suitable pleasure for all. I wish to refer to a number of matters of current interest, and concern to the Profession. Legal education The past year has probably witnessed some of the most important changes which the Society has seen since its foundation. In addition to our major move to our new premises in Blackhall Place, this year has witnessed the introduction, last February, of the Society's new

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