The Gazette 1980

GAZETTE

APRIL 1980

The Council reports

Committee Appointments Messrs Liam Young and Dudley Potter were appointed to the Education Advisory Committee. Mr. Michael W. Tyrell was appointed to the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Peter Prentice. Tributes were paid to Mr. Prentice for the service given to the Society as a member of the Council of Law Reporting. Mr. Seamus L. O'Kdly was appointed Executive Editor of the Gazette. Law Clerks The Society's representatives on the Law Clerks' Joint Labour Committee gave notice of a meeting on the day following the Council meeting. At that meeting it was agreed to pay the 1st phase of the National Understand- ing, 1979 (9%), as from the earliest possible date and the second phase (7%+£2.40) as from July 1st. The Society's representatives asked that the creation of a grade of Receptionist should be considered at a future meeting. Public Relations Members will already have seen press reports of a very successful symposium on "The Law and the Media" held in Blackhall Place in February. The principal guest speaker, Mr. Jacob Ecclestone, President, National Union of Journalists, took away with him a favourable view of the Society's outgoing approach in the public relations area. The Committee will organise further symposia later in the year. Government Departments Arising from strong representations by the Society, the Minister for Finance (Michael O'Kennedy) indicated that the arrears situation in the Valuation Office had been reduced from 3,000 cases to 1,600 and that he was pressing the Minister for the Public Service to appoint additional valuers at an early date. Mr. P. L. O'Reagain, Secretary, Department of Posts & Telegraphs, has assured the Society that every possible effort is being made to bring postal deliveries back to normal. The enquiry into the conveyancing monopoly is not likely to commence before June 1980, according to Mr. Niall MacLiam, Chairman, Restrictive Practices Commission. Liaison with the Bar The Council considered a report of a meeting with the General Council of the Bar of Ireland and the Federation of Insurers held in Blackhall Place on December 1979. It was agreed that, in advance of the next meeting on February 28th, the President should write to the Bar Council expressing the Council's reservations on the "Two Senior" system and on the engagement of Junior Counsel to the trial stage.

SUMMARIES FROM TWO MEETINGS - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1980

Problems created for conveyancers by the Family Home Protection Act have been of considerable concern to the Conveyancing Committee. In December, 1979, representatives of the Society discussed the matter with the Department of Justice: little progress was made. The view of the Department was that the general principle of the Act was draconian and that it would remain that way. The Council approved the backing of the Family Home Protection Act case which had been taken with a view to establishing the conclusiveness of the Folio and, in addition, authority was given to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court to establish a degree of finality in the matter. (See note regarding High Court decision). Education Programme Mr. John F. Buckley (Education Committee) reported on difficulties being experienced in obtaining masters for a number of prospective apprentices who had obtained places in the Law School. Council members were asked to use their efforts to overcome the problem. Mr. Peter Murphy commented that while there was a willingness to help on the part of many firms, accommodation was a difficult problem in the country. Computer The Society's computer has been installed and Mr. Maurice Curran (Finance Committee) reported that the cost was about £30,000. Data for the issue of this year's Practising Certificates is being fed to the computer. International The Council adopted a recommendation from Mr. Raymond Monahan, on behalf of the EEC & Inter- national Affairs Committee, that the invitation of the Council of Europe to mount a full-day Seminar on May 1st, 1980, should be accepted. Building Societies The Council read the report of a meeting with the Irish Building Societies' Association in November, 1979, and approved the establishment of the Joint Committee representative of the Society and the Association. The Committee will decide and lay down reasonable standards °n matters of practice and, if necessary, will arbitrate on differences which may arise between practitioners on such matters. The following matters were among those before the Tebruary meeting of the Council: The Council approved, on the recommendation of the Professional Purposes Committee, a standard form of affidavit for use in Family Law cases. The precedent will b e circulated with the Gazette.

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