The Gazette 1991

JU LY/AUGUST

1991

GAZETTE

• The adminisration of justice in the Courts was an area crying out for attention; delays needed to be addressed. • There was an urgent need for establishment of a Commission to consider our laws in relation to civil litigation and Court procedures; the President personnally favoured the granting of Interim Decrees, Income Decrees and the review of Court Orders in relation to claims. Court procedures must be reviewed and the method of listing cases re-examined. CONCLUSION Mr. Binchy concluded his address with the following message:- " I am proud to belong to a profession that, by and large, has provided an efficient, expert and cos t - e f f ec t i ve service to the community; a profession that in my experience is open to and prepared to collaborate w i t h desirable change - a profession that is a vibrant part of the 20th century and ready for the 21st century - a profession whose mo t to is appropriate to this age and to all times - Veritas Vincet - Truth shall Prevail."

the reform and modernisation of the Land Registry and Registry of Deeds. The. profession was glad that the Government had res- ponded a f f i rma t i ve ly to the Society's suggestion that the Land Registry be converted into a State- sponsored body. The only people, he said, who had the expertise and experience to engage in con- veyancing were solicitors and it was in the public interest and the interest of the client that this work should be left in the hands of solicitors. PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY The President said that about 80% of the Profession now carried Pro- fessional Indemnity Insurance ob- tained through the Society's own Fund (Solicitors Mutual Defence Fund) or their own insurers. The Society was seeking power in the f o r t hcomi ng Solicitors Bill to make professional indemnity com- pulsory. OTHER ISSUES The President also made the following points:- • The Civil Legal Aid Scheme urgently needed to be improved. • The Society was not opposed to the appointment of a Legal Ombudsman to oversee the handling of complaints by the Society. • The Society welcomed the proposed increase in t he jurisdiction of the District and Circuit Courts but it was essential that the necessary backup services be put in place. • On costs, the President asserted the right of the profession to fair remuneration for the work and services given. All solicitors' fees and charges were regulated by the Solicitors Remuneration Acts and there was a separate independent sys t em for examining and assessing the reasonableness of solicitors' costs. If freedom of competition were to come, a necessary corollary was that price control would have to go. • Contingency fees could not be considered until the Government changed the law. • The President strongly defended the Society's right to issue guidelines on professional fees.

THE INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

July/August 1991 Programme Thursday 25th July, Dublin 7.00 - 9.00p.m. JUDICIAL REVIEW: LAW AND PROCEDURE Consultant: Eamonn G. Hall, Solicitor Wednesday 7th August, Dublin 10.00a.m. - 5.00p.m. C.G.T. and SELF-ASSESSMENT Consultants: Caroline Devlin, AITI, Solicitor, Patrick Hunt, ACA, AITI, BL. See CLE Brochure for further details

SOLICITORS GOLFING SOCIETY CAPTAINS PRIZE (COLM PRICE) AT HOWTH, GOLF CLUB. The Captains Prize was held at Howth Golf Club on the 24th of May 1991. One Hundred members competed, the results were as follows:

Barry Doyle - 16 - 41 Points. Martin Kennedy - 18 - 39 Points. (12 AND UNDER) John Bourke - 11 - 41 Points. Brian O'Brien - 9 - 37 Points. Harry Fehilly - 36 Points. Eamonn Kelly - 14 - 38 Points. Andy Curneen - 16 - 37 Points. Don Binchy - 8 - 37 Points. Andrew Smith - 12 - 21 Points Colm Berkery - 18 - 21 Points. Paul Kearns - 15 - 34 Points.

CAPTAINS PRIZE: RUNNER UP OVER-ALL: ST. PATRICKS PLATE:

RUNNER UP: DIRECTOR GENERALS CUP: 13 AND OVER: RUNNER UP: 30 MILES & OVER: FIRST NINE: SECOND NINE: OVER 65s:

The Presidents Prize (Don Binchy) will be held at Clonmel Golf Club on Friday the 19th of July 1991 next. Notices will be forwarded in due course. RICHARD BENNETT Hon. Secretary

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