The Gazette 1990

SEPTEMBER 1990

GAZETTE

some 2,228 solicitors representing 1,075 firms participate. To encourage the generality of solicitors in practice back into the area of providing a level of financial as well as legal services, the Solici- tors Financial Service was estab- lished, in association with Sedgwick Dineen; with effect from 1st May 1989. In its initial year 259 firms have participated and shared over IR£0.75m in commis- sion. The Fund should come into its own with the implementation (from 1st October 1990) of Part IV of the Insurance Act 1989, which imposes control on brokers and agents. PUBL I CA T I ONS The publication of Irish law books has been a niche area of Society activity. Prior to 1970 there was little in the way of Irish legal publishing. With the support of the Arthur Cox Foundation, the Society's Publications Committee conducted a programme of book publications, now totalling some fifteen books. All but two of the Society's publications have been financially successful, with the result that commercial law publishers now consider the Irish market a good risk and are publishing regularly. The publication by the Society in 1981 of the 5th Edition of the Garda Siochana Guide TOLET

represented by far the largest publishing exercise, and the 6th Edition is due to be published in the near future. F I NALE As Jim looks back over his 17 years with the Society by his own high standards, he will see some failures tarnishing his matrix of success. As an administrator and former civil servant Jim, from a standpoint of being able to see both sides, strove for improvement in the State services to the legal process — not least the Land Registry, the Office of the Commissioner of Valuation, aspects of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, and the various Court Offices. Jim saw delays in these offices as being instrumental in damaging public relations for the profession itself — clients understandably tended to blame all delay on the solicitor. Despite some improvement, delay in Government agencies, particu- larly the Land Registry, still presents major problems for solicitors in conducting legal business expedit- iously for their clients. As far as concerns the Land Registry, whether the new proposals just announced by the Minister for Justice to computerise the Land Registry and the Registry of Deeds will offer a solution only time will tell. Jim's final challenge — the Solicitors' (Amendment) Bill — will not have seen the light of day before he leaves office. Jim and in- house solicitor, Anna Hegarty, with a small Council sub-committee under Maurice Curran, have been working in close liaison with the Department of Justice on the formulation of a number of critical changes to the Solicitors' Acts designed to reflect the reality of the Society's public interest functions as well as its internal needs. It is hoped that this Bill will be introduced before the end of 1990. When Jim was appointed in 1973 there were some 1,500 solicitors on the Roll. Now there are in excess of 3,500, to be found not only in Ireland, but also in London and Brussels and elsewhere in the E.C., as well as the United States, Australia and other common law countries. Whether the anticipated numbers qualifying from now on can be absorbed into the traditional areas of legal practice is the big question. With the administrator's

foresight, Jim, together with suc- cessive Presidents in recent times has been preaching the necessity for those now qualifying to have a wider perspective — not least reaching into the commercial world. It is perhaps of significance that Jim's period of office closes with the awarding of the first J. P. O'Reilly Memorial Scholarship to a young apprentice (Muiris O'Ceidigh) to fund his attendance at the M.B.A. degree course in T.C.D. The object of this annual scholarship, presented by Dr. Tony O'Reilly, himself asolicitor who entered the world of business, is to encourage the bridging of that very gap between the world of law and the world of finance and commerce. As Jim retires, the thanks of the profession are due to him for his untiring zeal, effort and leadership during the past 17 years. We wish Jim and his wife, Nanette, an enjoyable and happy retirement. To Nanette also, our thanks are due for her beautiful singing on many occasions on behalf of the Society's charitable endeavours. •

THE SOCIETY OF ACTUARIES N IRELAND

PAPER ON LITIGATION

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The Society of Actuaries in Ireland would like to invite all those interested to attend a paper on litigation to begiven by Peter Delany, FIA FPMI ASA, partner in Delany, Bacon & Woodrow, Consulting Actuaries on Thursday 1st November. The meeting will start at 6.30 p.m. sharp fol- lowing coffee at 5.45 p.m. in the offices of Irish Pensions Trust, Hill Samuel House, Adelaide Road, Dublin 2. Would those wishing to attend please contact Camilla McAleese at the Society's office, Telephone 612427.

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