The Gazette 1993

N W

GAZETTE

JUNE 1993

Council Meeting, May 1993

injuries cases. The appeal had been financially supported by the Society and it has been successful. He said he believed the judgment would be of significant benefit to the profession.

Kenneth Best Case

solicitors and in particular the general lack of awareness of the essentials of time-costing and the proper financial management of a practice. It was intended to publish articles in the Gazette and to conduct regional seminars. The Costs Committee was also seeking the agreement of the Education Committee to the allocation | of one hour on each Advanced Course | to a member of the Remuneration/ : Costs Committee who would address students on the topic of running a business and methods of charging. I The Chairman of the Taxation Committee reported that following further negotiations a number of additional concessions had been obtained from the Revenue Commissioners in regard to the application of provisions of Part VII of the Finance Act, 1992. He would be reporting in full to the half-yearly meeting in Connemara and to the Special General Meeting on 17 June. With regard to Section 59 notices, the Chairman reported that the Committee had not succeeded in obtaining concessions from the Revenue Commissioners on this matter. In the light of counsels' opinions on the principle of solicitor/client j confidentiality, the Committee was of the view that there was no sustainable basis upon which these notices could be resisted. Some Council members took the view that the notices should be resisted as the issue at stake went to the very root of the profession and compliance could mean losing work to foreign lawyers. i j After some discussion, the Council j decided that the matter of Section 59 ' (Continued on page 193) Part VII - Finance Act, 1992

At their meeting on 14 May, 1993, members of the Council of the Society congratulated Ernest Cantillon, a member of the Council, who was the solicitor who acted in the Kenneth Best case, and expressed regret that the news media had largely ignored the compliments paid to him by the judge in the case. The Council agreed that the case should be used by the Society to obtain the maximum public relations benefit particularly when making the case for the introduction of a comprehensive scheme of civil legal aid. | | Angel Dust Regulations Ultra-Vires The Council considered a recent High Court decision in which the Angel | Dust regulations had been declared j | ultra-vires and void and the j implications of the judgment for EC ! secondary legislation. Given that the j I suggested that the President should I write to the Minister for Justice and/or the Attorney General enquiring as to the action being taken by the State and whether the State had a fall-back Í position. implications of this decision for lawyers were significant, it was

Practice Management

The Council was informed that the possibility of establishing a Mergers Register and a Sale of Practices i Register was being examined by the ! Practice Management Committee.

New Reception Area at Blackball Place

The Council debated a decision by the Premises Committee to provide a new reception area at Blackhall Place. It was pointed out that the proposal would free-up the existing reception | area so that a Members' Reading Room could be made available within the building. There was some discussion about the wisdom of committing expenditure on such a proposal at the present time given the other demands on Society resources and the prevailing economic climate. The Chairman of the Premises Committee assured the Council that Í the expenditure was within the parameters of this year's budget allocation to the Committee and that he believed that the reception area at Blackhall Place required urgent upgrading. The proposal was the most cost-effective solution, was consistent | with the proper development of the building and would provide improved facilities for members. The proposal was approved. The Council discussed the results of the recent survey of members of the profession concerning remuneration and costs. The Chairman of the Costs j Committee outlined a proposed plan of action to address the difficulties currently being experienced by Remuneration/Costs

Family Law

i The Chairman of the Family Law and : Civil Legal Aid Committee reported | to Council that the Committee had j ! fully supported the contents of a code | of conduct prepared by the Family Lawyers Association.

| Taxation of Stand-by Fees j

The Chairman of the Litigation Committee reported on an appeal j taken by John Reidy, Solicitor, who is | a member of the Society's Litigation ! Committee, against the Taxing Master's decision to refuse to tax stand-by fees for doctors in personal

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