The Gazette 1984

entitled to vote should be specified. Council Report

There was an attendance of 59 members at the Annual General Meeting of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland held at Blackhall Place, Dublin, on November 18th, 1983. The President, Mr. Michael P. Houlihan, presided. The Minutes of the Half-yearly General Meeting, held on May 7th, 1983, were taken as read and signed. Accounts/Balance Sheet Commenting on the figures, which were for a period of eight months due to the change in the accounting year, Mr. Quentin Crivon said that if they were prepared on an annualised basis they would show a significant drop in miscellaneous income and in Gazette income and convey the impression that before long the Society would be "broke". The President pointed out that there had been very heavy claims on the Compensation Fund. The figures in the accounts reflected the financial position prior to his taking up office, and he had taken steps at the beginning of the year to ensure that a brake was put on expenditure. Mr. T. D. Shaw, chairman of the Finance Committee, explained that the figures which Mr. Crivon was quoting related to the sources and application of funds, reflecting the cash flow. The real figures relating to the Society's work were in the income and expenditure account which showed a surplus. The shortfall in the cash flow was due to a decline in the use of the premises for public functions. A determined effort had been made to contain the Society's expenditure and this was reflected in the fact that the increase in the subscription for the coming year would only be £10. The Finance Committee was budgetting for a break-even figure in the current year and again for the coming year. Mr. Shaw explained the operation of the Compensa- tion Fund and added that a first stage claim on the insurers had now been approved for payment. From the low figure reported in the accounts, the Compensation Fund now stood at £500,000. Mr. Crivon asked that, with the new arrangement, the members be given an outline of the accounting situation at the end of nine months at the Annual General Meeting. Mr. Desmond Moran was informed that civil proceedings had been initiated against auditors arising out of the claims on the Compensation Fund. Mr. Moran argued that the Society should take criminal proceedings. The audited accounts and balance sheet were agreed. Council Election The result of the Council election was published in the December, 1983 Gazette. In reply to a query from Mr. Michael Murphy, Mr. Peter Prentice detailed how votes were spoiled in the course of the election. Mr. Moran urged that ballot papers which were voted on in numerical basis, be accepted. In reply, Mr. Doyle pointed out that the scrutineers gave careful consideration to each faulty ballot paper before declaring the vote a spoiled one. Mr. Donal Kelliher asked that in the case of future elections, the number

The President referred to the Council Report, as circulated to members and invited comment. The report was discussed under the following headings: President and Council Mr. T. C. G. O'Mahony commended the Council on agreeing to the appointment of a 'troubleshooter'. Parliamentary Mr. Crivon referred to the proposed Family Law Bill and asked if there had been any consultations with the Minister or his Department. Mr. John Buckley explained that the Conveyancing Committee had written to the Department offering help in a working party, but the Department stated it would not be organising a working party. As a result, the Conveyancing Committee had commissioned Mr. Patrick Horgan, U.C.C., to prepare a position paper which, hopefully, would be available by the end of January. This position paper would be submitted to the Department. Mr. Crivon commented that the Society should be making representations to the Taoiseach and the appropriate Minister and not to Departmental officials who did not have the interests of the profession at heart. The President explained that the Society had established a liaison with the solicitor members of the Oireachtas and while consultation was difficult to achieve, every effort would be made to do so at the political level. Mr. Ken Murphy referred to the recent comments at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis by Deputy Bernard Allen on the subject of the Disciplinary Committee. The President said he had discussed this matter with the Minister and the Society would be putting forward specific proposals to provide for their representation on the Committee. In addition, the Society had two representatives on a Committee established by the Attorney General to review what might be termed "Lawyers law", with a view to amending legislation to clear out the deadwood. Mr. David Pigot referred to the fact that the Society's representatives on the Superior Court Rules Committee had been extensively involved in the work of that Committee in producing amendments to the Superior Court Rules with a view to expediting business. In reply to Mr. Moran, the Director General confirmed that the Roll of Solicitors was maintained in bound volumes. Finance Arising out of the Committee report, Mr. Brendan Garvan raised the question of professional indemnity insurance. The President gave a detailed report of developments over the year. The discussions with the various interests were still ongoing and at the moment, the market was very fluid. There was a possibility that the situation would become clearer towards the end of February but it seemed that for a number of years ahead, the Society would be advising members to seek 11