The Gazette 1981

N O V E M B E R

1981

GAZETTE

W. D. McEvoy

Michael Houlihan

The Vice-Presidents 1981/82

Mr. W. D. McEvoy has been elected Junior Vice- President for the year 1981/82. Educated at University College, Galway, Mr. McEvoy was admitted in 1948 and has been a member of the Council since 1974. He is a former Chairman of the Society's Public Relations Committee. Mr. McEvoy is Senior Partner of John A. Sinnott & Co., Rafter Street, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Mr. Michael P. Houlihan has been elected Senior Vicc President for the year 1981/82. Mr. Houlihan is Principal of the firm of Ignatius M. Houlihan & Sons, 10/1 1 Rindon Street, Ennis, Co. Clare, and is the eldest son of Ignatius M. Houlihan and Oona Treacy Houlihan, both solicitors. Educated at Ennis C.B.S., Cistercian College. Roscrea, and U.C.D., Mr. Houlihan was admitted in 1963 and has been a member of the Council since the year 1970. He is a former Chairman of the Society's Privileges, Professional Purposes, and Insurance Com mittees, and was the Society's representative on the Superior Court Rules Committee. Unfortunately, in his experience, the Committee denied members the right to put letters in the Gazette. In reply, the President said that the Editorial Committee enjoyed editorial privilege on the contents. Par 11.2 — Education In reply to comments that the supply of solicitors was outstripping solicitors' demand and that too many solicitors were graduating each year, Mr. Frank Daly said that a statistical survey which was conducted by the Education Committee some two years ago predicted that six hundred solicitors would be unemployed in 1985. The Committee had been in touch with the Civil Service and other employments since it was clear that solicitors would have to find an outlet in Commerce, Industry and the Public Scrvicc. Mr. Crivon said that it was irresponsible for the profession to turn out 160 solicitors per annum and

that the Society would have to cut-back on the intake of students. Other professions controlled the output of members. He also outlined the undesirable situation where solicitors were setting up on their own account just because they were unable to obtain a position. The President said that with the new Law School, the intake of students was restricted to about 150 per annum. Currently there was a peak situation insofar as solicitors arc graduating from the 'Old' and the 'New' systems which are running parallel. This situation would be cleared in a year or two. The Matter of unemployed solicitors was of great concern to the Council and was kept under constant review by the Council. Mr. Curran commented that the public attitude to the Profession must be taken into account. The Profession had been accused of being a closed shop which enjoyed certain monopolies. In his view, market forces must be