The Gazette 1990

GAZETTE COR R E S PONDp i tE

'

APRIL

1990

Mr. James J. Ivers Director General, The Law Society, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.

exchange of information and knowledge. The Association is intended to represent Lawyers who practise predominantly in matters relating to the well-being of the Plaintiff and others whose views are sym- pathetic to the proposed objects. It is envisaged that the inaugural meeting of the new Association will take place in April of 1990 and it is hoped that there will be a strong Irish representation in its Membership. The intention is to have an organisation which, in principle, is not dissimilar to that of the American Trial Lawyers Association which, I am sure, many of you will appreciate is a substantial organisa- tion responsible for many advances in the areas of Law Reform and the Administration of Justice. It is felt by the Steering Committee that the new Association will blossom into a powerful force for those objects outlined herewith. Mundane matters such as sub- scription rates etc. together with a comprehensive list of the benefits will be made available at the inaugural meeting in April. How- ever, in the interim, it would be of great benefit to the Committee if we had, at least, some indication of the volume of support we would be likely to achieve throughout the various regions in the home Countries, therefore, all you are required to do in the first instance is to write to me simply indicating an interest and thereafter you will be properly advised and kept informed of developments as they occur. It is right for me to say, having been involved in preliminary dis- cussions, that plans are both exciting and innovative and would well merit the support of as many of our colleagues as are sympathetic to the aims of the Association. On hearing from you, I will keep you advised of developments as they occur and take this oppor- tunity of thanking you in anticipation of your support. Yours faithfully, FRANCIS J. HANNA Solicitor,

The Editor, The Gazette, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.

17th January 1990

Re: Social Insurance Contributions for the Self-Employed Dear Mr. Ivers, One of the issues which you raised in your letter is the question of self-employed persons who were over 56 years of age when social insurance became compulsory for the self-employed in April 1988. Self-employment contributions pro- vide cover for old age (contributory) pension and for widow's and orphan's (contributory) pensions. One of the qualifying conditions for the old age (contributory) pension is that the claimant must have commenced paying social insur- ance contributions at least 10 years before reaching pension age i.e. before they reach 56 years. This requirement has applied since the old age (contributory) pension scheme was introduced in 1961 and is applied equally to employed contributors and to self-employed contributors. Self-employed persons who are over the age of 56 years on enter- ing insurance will, however, be able to build up entitlement to widow's (contributory) pension after three years insurance. Furthermore, their insurance as self-employed persons can also be combined with any previous insurance they may have had as employees and as voluntary contributors to establish entitle- ment to either the old age or widow's pension. The question of making special provision to enable self-employed contributors who commence pay- ing social insurance contributions after reaching 56 years of age to qualify for old age (contributory) pensions has been examined within the Department but the potential costs of such provisions would be prohibitive. Under the existing arrangements employed contributors who enter insurance after reaching 56 years of age are entitled to a refund of the old age (contributory) pension ele- ment of the PRSI contribution. In the course of introducing the scheme of social insurance for the self-employed the Minister for

Dear Colleague,

Re: Association of Personal Injury Lawyers

Last October a meeting was held in London to see whether or not there would be a demand for the in- auguration of a new Association known as the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. The impetus for the creation of such an Association came about following the Winter Convention of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America who held their Convention in London in January of 1989. Such was their inspiration that a found- ing group of practitioners prepared a preliminary discussion document which was unanimously adopted by a meeting of practitioners from all over the United Kingdom last October. The meeting elected a Steering Committee to bring the new Association into being and it is intended that it will represent practitioners and other interested participants in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. I was asked to represent "the Irish connection" on the Steering Committee and part of my respon- sibility is to ensure that members of the Solicitors' Branch of the Profession, together with Barris- ters, Academics and Student Members are properly advised of the proposed existence of the Association. I outline, in brief, the objects of the Association which are:- (a) The promotion of proper and fair compensation for all types of personal injury. (b) To foster the role of the legal process in the promotion of safety, particularly safety for consumers in the workplace, in the use of products and trans- port, and in all places of public meeting. (c) To promote and develop exper- tise i n the practice of personal injury law by education and the

Hampton House, 53 High Street, Belfast BT1 2AB, Northern Ireland.

75