The Gazette 1987

Broad Discussions at Society's Annual General Meeting

Membership Subscription/Practis- ing Certificate fee increased by 9% in 1985 and 5% in 1986). No further points were raised and the accounts were then adopted. New Bye Law Proposed In opening the Report of the Council for discussion, the Presi- dent said that he would take with it the resolution standing in the name of Mr. Maurice R. Curran and Mr. Rory O'Donnell. The following Resolution was then proposed:- "That Bye Law 38(b) be deleted and replaced by the following sub- clause:- 38 (b) Any past President of the Society who has ceased at any time to be a member of the Council and who notifies the Council in writing of his desire to participate in the affairs of the Council shall so long as he remains a member of the Society:- (i) In the first year after he ceases to be a member be entitled to receive notices and agendas, papers for and to attend at all meetings of the Council, and to speak and vote thereat; (ii) In any subsequent year shall be entitled to receive notices and agendas, papers for and to attend at all meetings of the Council, and to speak and vote thereat provided that in the previous year he has at- tended at least five meetings of the Council; (iii) Any past President of the

The President, Mr. David R. Pigot presided at the Annual General Meeting of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland at Blackhall Place, Dublin, on November 12th 1987. The formal notice convening the meeting and the minutes of the Half Yearly General Meeting having been taken as read, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. Ernest J. Margetson proposed the adoption of the audited accounts and balance sheet, Mr. Brendan Garvan queried the Law Society's control over expenditure in view of the increase of 24% in total expen- diture from 1984 to 1986. He con- tended that it was out of control and that the increase in the numbers paying membership subscriptions and Practising Cer- tificate fees should have enabled the Society to reduce the Practis- ing Certificate fee level. The extra income generated by the increased numbers was (a) Membership Subscription £3,000 in 1985 and £10,000 in 1986 and (b) Practising Certificate fees £38,000 in 1985 and £27,000 in 1986, to add to the total annual in- come of (approximately) £1m. Mr. Margetson stressed that ex- penditure was strictly controlled and all items were continuously ex- amined to ensure that they were justifiable. The 1986 accounts showed^such expenses as payroll and related costs which included an extra solicitor for the Com- plaints Department, Public Rela- tions expenditure on the video "Its the Law" and "The Newsletter". The extra expenditure had receiv- ed the approval of Council and such outlays, particularly the extra professional support in the Com- plaints area and investment in new technology, will show beneficial effects. The Chairman also pointed out that the total annual amount payable per member was, in fact £6 less in 1986 than immediately prior to 1984. Mr. Garvan stated that he was referring to the Prac- tising Certificate fee level (the

Council and to speak but not to vote thereat; Provided however that any such privilege as is provid- ed in sub-clauses (i) or (ii) above may be suspended or removed from any such past President in the same manner as is provided in Bye Laws 47 and 48 of the Society for the suspension and removal of a member of Council.

Mr. Curran said that in proposing the Resolution, he had in mind a limited number of Past Presidents who attended regularly at the Council, participated in discussions and regretted that they could not vote. The resolution had been worked to ensure that on particular issues, Past Presidents would not come out of the woodwork to have a deciding voice on a decision. The adoption of the Resolution would give younger members a greater opportunity of election to the Council. Mr. John Maher said that as a Past President he was wholeheartedly in support of the Resolution. As a regular attender at the Council he had a feeling of isolation in having no vote on issues discussed. The proposal was a reasonable compromise bet- ween the Past President having no vote and the interest of the elected Council Member. Mr. Ken Murphy said he was against the Resolution. It would make the Council more remote and unresponsive to members than is currently the situation. He listed the votes on major issues which had been taken over recent years and said he did not know how the Past Presidents would have voted, had they a vote, but they had very fixed views and were by nature conservative. Several members of the Y-ounger Members' Committee were opposed to the proposition as was the Committee of the Society of Young Solicitors. He was not convinced that in adopting it, the Society would be going in the right direction for the 1990's.

Society who has ceased at any time to be a member of the Council and who does not qualify under the provi- sions of sub-clauses (i) or (ii) above shall, so long as he remains a member of the Society, have the privilege of receiving notices and agenda papers for and to attend at all meetings of the

316