The Gazette 1983

GAZETTE

JULY/AUGUST 1983

Correspondence

than its Legislators ha v e ." Would the writer like to indicate what evidence exists to bear this out. I find it a rather strange statement indeed, especially when one bears in mind that all memb e rs of the judiciary have been appointed by Legislators at s ome stage or another. The standard of the Dail debate was described in your Ga z e t te as being "deplorable": you said "It s e emed as if De pu t i es were vying with each other in advocating punitive sanctions, almost regretting that transportation is no longer available as a punishment. It is not the duty of politicians merely to e c ho each popular catch cry." I e nc l o se herewith a copy of the Dail Report involved and I challenge the writer of this emotive commentary to point out to me where that statement is borne out in the contributions of the vast majority of those who took part, including the undersigned — your blanket c ond emna t i on admitted no exceptions. In fact, the tone and content of the contribution made by most of the speakers was extremely moderate, very controlled, in no way emotive and for most of us was entered into with very many misgivings. As you will appreciate, it is most unusual to hear any politician discussing or debating in the Dail a judgement given in the Courts and this particular constraint, along with the verv strict rules which apply in the Oireachtas — but which clearly are not observed when it c omes to editorials in the I.L.S. Gazette — relating to order and propriety in debate, ensured that, for the most part, moderation and responsibility were the order of the day. Accordingly, I will be grateful if your writer would now read the debate (which he clearly had not done previously) and indicate to me and to your readership whe t her he still asserts that "Deputies were vying with each other in advocating punitive sanctions etc . .". One is entitled to expect a higher standard from youreminent publication than this level of abuse. Editorial Note: Deputy Michael Keating is correct when he states that the official Dail Report does reveal that a number of deputies made contributions to the motion which were moderate and controlled. Unfortunately, circulation of the Dail Reports is not such as to have any influence on public opinion in general. The reports of the debates in the national newspapers were carefully considered before the article was written and the Editorial Board is satisfied that the comments made in the article were fair and were based on the evidence available to the public generally. - Ed. MARR I AGE COUNSELL ING SERVICE A conference on "MARRIAGE ISSUES IN IRELAND" will take placc on 14 Octohcr. IW3 at Irish Management Institute. Sandvford. Dublin. Speakers will include Nicholas Tyndall. B . A .. Chief Officer of the National Marriage Guidance Council. England and John Haynes. Ph. D.. President of Mediation Training Institute. Cost £12. (HI inel. Lunch. Bonking: Secretary. Marriage Counselling Service. 24 Grafton Street. Dublin 2. 167 Sincerely yours. Michael Keating. T . D . , Alderman Dáil Eireann, Baile A t ha Cliath 2.

The Editor. 28th June 1983 Th e Incorporated Law Society of Ireland Gazette, Blackhall Place. Dub l in 7. I r ememb e r, about fifteen years ago, coming across a little bo ok which set out a kind of legal shorthand which had c ome to be used by practising lawyers. I think the book wou ld have been published maybe fifty or sixty years ago. The system outlined was not a shorthand in the sense of using signs such as in Pitman or Gregg but rather a well worked out system of abbreviations for wo rd s, especially abbreviations for legal expressions continually in use. I have always regretted that I did not buy that little book on the occasion in question and I have since made many attempts to trace it both by mentioning the matter to c o l l e agues and also by writing to various London b o o k s h o ps which deal in both new and secondhand legal b o o ks but always without success. I write this letter in the h o pe that s ome b o dy may have a copy of such book and if so I would very much like to have the opportunity of perusing it. Few solicitors or barristers have shorthand and it strikes me that, if there was at one time a well worked out type of legal shorthand of the kind I have mentioned a b o v e, it might well be worthwhile reviving it.

You rs etc.. Maurice J. Ke nny. Solicitor. Co r as Iompair Eireann, St. Johns. Islandbridge. Dublin 8. "

The Editor.

14 June, 1983

Incorporated Law Society of Ireland Gazette, Blackhall Place. Dub l in 7. De ar Editor.

I was more than a little surprised to read about the n ews pap er c omme nt on, and the actual text of, what I a s s ume is the editorial in your April, 1983 edition, entitled "Fit the Crime", especially that part of it which referred to the Dail debate which took place in relation to what has c ome to be known as the Fairview Park case. It is clear to me that wh o e v er wrote the editorial was neither present in the Dail at the time, nor took the trouble to actually read the Dail report on the proceedings, but based his or her commentary on the mo re lurid aspects of the media coverage given the d e ba t e. Th e editorial said "Our Judges have, since the inception of the State, served its people well — far better