The Gazette 1980

JULY-AUGUST 1980

GAZETTE

STAMP DUTY A PENAL TAX ON IRISH HOMEOWNERS —Continued from page 117.

recommendation as to the composition of the committee to the next council meeting. When Mrs. Moya Quinlan, Senior Vice President, indicated that some Civil Legal Aid Centres would commence work in August Mr. Houlihan emphasised the need to get information to members, particularly in the country, as they required a guideline on what their re- action should be to working with the Legal Aid Centres. The Society is seeking some information from the Legal Aid Board for circulation. IN BRIEF The Society's submission to the Commission on Taxation is to be forwarded to the Commission before the next Council meeting. The submission on Court costs to the National Prices Commission is now being examined at technical level. The Council emphasised that the adjustment in pay ments to law clerks, effective from July 1, should not be overlooked. The delay in the supply of Marriage Certificates from the General Register Office at the Custom House was raised. This is to be taken up with the Minister for the Public Service. On consideration of a letter from the Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers regarding the dissolution of the Syrian Bar Association and detention of 20 of its leading members, the Council agreed that a letter should be written to the Syrian Arab Republic deploring the treatment meted out to the profession. The venue for the 1981 conference will be the Water- ville Lake Hotel, County Kerry and the following committee has been appointed to organise the event: Messrs P. O ' Conno r, Chairman; L. Shields, J. F. Buckley, A. F. Smyth and Miss Clare Cusack. Additional members will be co-opted if required.

area with insufficient newly-built housing, then it is four per cent — or else! This can only depress the market in second-hand houses, leaving the unfortunate seller of a second-hand house even less well equipped to purchase his next residence. Ours is not the first voice to ventilate this topic, nor will it be the last. Surely, a Government — any Government — that appreciates that special Capital Gains Tax provision should be made for the "principal private residence", can extend its thinking as far as Stamp Duty. Or are we left wondering whether successive Governments, conscious that half our population is now under 25 years of age, have been cynically rubbing their hands, waiting for the Great Stamp Duty Bonanza? Criminal Lawyers Group Formed Solicitors practising criminal law in the Dublin area have agreed to establish a new body, the Association of Criminal Lawyers. This decision was made at a meeting at Blackhall Place attended by Mrs. Moya Quinlan, Senior Vice President of the Incorporated Law Society, and James J. Ivers, Director-General. An executive committee was appointed with Brendan Kingston as chairman, and a subscription of £15 per annum was agreed. The Association will promote an adequate scheme of representation for all persons appearing before the Courts, requiring representation on criminal charges. It will work in consultation with the Incorporated Law Society in the hope of achieving a consultative status to the Society in the future. The Association will cover the whole country and is open to all members of the profession interested in the area of criminal law. The whole sphere of criminal practise will be kept under review, with the aim of involving the Law Society and representatives of other parties concerned with criminal practice in discussion on necessary changes and development. Meetings and seminars will be organised for the ongoing education of practitioners and a journal or review will be published on a regular basis to provide information and opinion in the area of criminal law and practice. • The Association's executive will initiate a programme, including the opening of formal links with the Law Society. It is intended that a code of conduct involving rules of etiquette will be drawn up and form part of the constitution of the association which will also be concerned with the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to ensure that the Scheme is kept up-to-date and meets the needs of required work-loads. Solicitors may obtain further information or member- ship application forms by writing to the Secretary, Association of Criminal Lawyers, The Law Society, Blackhall Place, Dublin, 7.

I N C O R P O R A T ED L AW S O C I E TY O F I R E L A ND The Succession Act 1965 by William J. McGuire The above book was published by the Society in 1968 and has been out of print lor some time. The Socicty now proposes publishing a 2nd revised edition. Applications would be welcomed for the position of Associate Editor of the revised edition and should be addressed to: — I ho Director General. The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. Black hall Placc. Dublin 7.

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