The Gazette 1987

SEPTEMBER 1987

GAZETTE

the Council because they are elected in that particular year. In that way, over time, the changing views within the profession are ac- commodated. Insofar as the Resolution was concerned, there would be no problem until the voice of those wanting change was out- voted by the votes of the more conservative Past Presidents. Ms. Anne Neary wondered how many additional votes the resolution would produce. She pointed out that out of a profession of about 3,500, only 1,100 bothered to vote. Mr. Peter Prentice said that he was the originator of the motion to allow past Presidents to attend the Council on the basis that while there was need for an experienced view on the Council, the up-and- coming members should not find it too difficult to get elected. He was opposed to the Motion and was supported by Mr. Bruce St. J. Blake. Mr. Curran then replied. On a show of hands the motion was defeated. The President then dealt with the Reports of the various committees. On the report of the Education Committee, Mr. Desmond Moran referred to the article on Court Eti- quette in the November issue of the Gazette dealing with the Ad- vocacy Course. He commented that he was disappointed at the standard of cross examination shown by younger solicitors and wondered how many of the modern apprentices were brought to an action by their Masters. The remaining sections of the report were agreed. The Annual Report of the Council was then adopted. Election of Auditors Mr. Margetson proposed the re- appointment of Messrs. Coopers & Lybrand as Auditors to the Society for the coming year. He welcomed Mr. Dick Lane, a partner of the firm and Mr. Brendan Kavanagh, Audit Manager, and thanked them for their help to the Society over the year. The proposal was seconded by Mr. D. Binchy and agreed. Council for 1987 / 88 The Scrutineers Report which was tabled was accepted. The outcome of the ballot was as follows:-

Due to a nearby fire alarm operating for nearly half an hour making continuance of the meeting in the President's Hall impossible, the meeting adjourned to the Members Lounge. Mr. John Buckley suggested that the adoption of the Resolution as it stood would leave the Council with a very long tail of Past Presidents. While he had sympathy with the principle of the Resolution, he felt that to make it practical past Presidents should only be allowed the vote for a further three years at maximum. Mr. Don Binchy said that when the idea of service on the Council by Past Presidents was first offered it was done so as to in- duce young members to go for election to the Council. In practice that had not happened. Committee Work Mr. Adrian Bourke said the for- mula worked out some years ago was satisfactory in that the major work of the Council was done in Committees. The attendance re- quirement would be more mean- ingful if it embraced attendance at Committees as well as at the Coun- cil. Mr. Daire Murphy said there was a continuing concern that the Council could be remote from the ordinary members. One answer to those who felt remote was that it was up to them to elect their own representatives. The Law Society needed an input from Past Presidents but was a vote necessary to achieve that input? It would be open to Past Presidents to stand for election if they wanted to vote. Mr. P. Brennan welcomed any development which would give the Law Society the benefit of the long experience of Past Presidents, but Mr. Andy Smyth asked why, if the Resolution was adopted, Past Presidents would bother going up for election since under the Resolu- tion they would have a vote. Mr. Justin McKenna supported the Resolution since he did not regard the absence of Past Presidents from the election list as a threat to democracy. Mr. Pat O'Connor supported the motion but would like a limit in the number of years of entitlement as sug- gested earlier. Mr. Michael Williams said that the Council was elected from year to year and people have a vote in

Total Votes

1. Quinlan, Moya 2. Binchy, Donal G. 3. O'Donnell, Rory 4. Ensor, Anthony H. 5. O'Donnell, P. Frank

1099 1053 1050 1048

980 6. O'Mahony, Michael V. 958 7. Bourke, Adrian P. 938 8. Pigot, David R. 937 9. Margetson, Ernest J. 915 10. Collins, Anthony E. 906 11. Clarke, Geraldine M. 879 12. O'Connor, Patrick 875 13. Smyth, Andrew F. 856 14. Shields, Laurence K. 853 1 5. Lynch, Elma 840 16. Daly, Francis D. 837 17. Daly, Patrick J. 830 18. Monahan, Raymond T. 828 19. McMahon, Brian M. 817 20. Irvine, Michael Glynn 815 21. Cullen, Laurence 813 22. Curran, Maurice R. 799 23. Mahon, Brian J. 794 24. Glynn, Patrick A. 782 25. Murphy, Ken 779 26. Killeen, Carmel S. 743 27. Matthews, Vivian C. 709 28. Harte, John B. 675 29. Donegan, James D. 671 30. Griffin, Gerard F. 657 Note Under Bye Law 29A the Senior Vice President (Mr. Thomas D. Shaw) is deemed to be elected. Provincial Delegates Connaught - McEllin, Edward M. Leinster - Lanigan, Frank Munster - O'Connell, Michael Ulster - Murphy, Peter F. R. Single European Act In the absence of Mr. T. C. G. O'Mahony (abroad) and Mr. Bren- dan Garvan who had to leave the meeting earlier, the following mo- tion was proposed by Mr. Anthony Murphy and seconded by Mr. Brendan Fahy:- "We call on the Council of the Society and/or its appropriate Committee(s) to explain the neglect of the Society to in- vestigate and enlighten the country on the serious constitu- tional implications of the Single European Act, or to lend ap- propriate assistance or co- operation to Legal Consultative Council on its lone pioneering of this enormous task.

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