The Gazette 1983

GAZETTE

APRIL 1983

Correspondence The Editor, The Law Society Gazette,

in an employer's hands is no different to putting one's hand in the till. The sooner this is recognised the better, with the consequential rights of the defrauded to be recompensed and of the offender to be penalised. The cynical response of trade unionists is that, if large numbers break laws, this confers effective immunity. In the cases of the monopolist ESB and banks some years ago, Governments of the day scotched that ploy by making the funds of Unions and their officers subject to heavy penalties in such cases — but only on ad hoc bases — instead of keeping these effective sanctions on ice for later use. If the present Government is to retain credibility, it must demonstrate that not only tax defaulters but tax diverters may equally face imprisonment — Sauce for the Goo se . . . Meanwhile, Trade Union Leaders should examine their Constitutions as well as their consciences for authority to advocate anarchy among their members — for that is exactly what they are doing no matter how they dress it up. F. X . Burke, Solicitor, 13 Northbrook Rd., Dublin 6.

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Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.

Sir, Perhaps the Minister for Labour may reconsider his recent ill-considered suggestion that the Law should be taken out of Industrial Relations — now that the Govern- ment is at the receiving end of Trade Union advice to employees to divert P AYE & PRSI away from the Government. T o take the Law out of Industrial Relations is about as sensible as taking it out of drugs abuse or family matters. The Community needs the Law in all three for its protection. N o worker was ever jailedior striking — only for disobeying a court order to stop breaking the law. The Minister was, of course, only echoing the irrespon- sible claims to leave the Trade Union Movement a State within a State — free to break the law with impunity and to use it when it suits. To divert an employer's — or the Government's funds

Law Society, Council Dinner

Guests attending the Council Dinner were Mr. Frank Barrett (left), President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and Mr. Patrick McMahon, Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners.

TheHon. Mr. T. F. O'Higgins, Chief Justice and Mr. Michael P. Houlihan, President of the Incorporated Law Society.

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