The Gazette 1994

JULY 1994

GAZETTE

PUBLICATION DATE 8 AUGUST 1994

• they will have and convey under- standing of, and sympathy for, the needs and concerns of court users as appropriate and be sensitive and humane. 6. Commitment • they will be committed to public service and to the proper and efficient administration of justice, which they will pursue conscienti- ously, with energy and diligence. Conclusion The new procedure for making judicial appointments in the United Kingdom has been criticised on the basis that the procedure still leaves much of the process shrouded in mystery. But let us be honest: the procedure is, to adopt a cliche, "light years" ahead of the procedure in this jurisdiction. Democratic self-government demands that the Executive in Ireland adopts a more open and transparent approach. •

5. Authority • the ability to command the respect of court users and to maintain fair- minded discipline in the court and chambers without appearing pompous, arrogant or overbearing; • the ability to promote expeditious despatch of business preventing unnecessary prolixity, repetition and irrelevance whilst ensuring that all participants are enabled to present their case or their evidence as fully and fairly as possible. C. Personal Qualities Successful candidates will possess the following personal qualities: 1. Integrity • they will have a history of honesty, discretion and plain-dealing with professional colleagues, clients and the courts; • they will possess independence of mind and moral courage; • they will have generated the trust, confidence and respect of others. 2. Fairness • they will be open-minded and objective, having the ability to recognise any personal prejudices and to set them aside. • they will deal impartially with all matters which come before them and will seek to ensure that all who appear before them have an opportunity for their case to be clearly presented and that it is then considered as fully and dispassionately as possible. 3. Understanding of People and Society • they will have knowledge and understanding of, and respect for, people from all social backgrounds. They will be sensitive to the influence of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds on the attitudes and behaviour of people whom they encounter in the course of their work. 4. Sound Treatment • they will be firm and decisive while

Annual Review of Irish Law 1992

R A Y M O N D BYRNE & W I L L I AM B I N C HY

The sixth v o l ume in this w i d e ly acclaimed series will be published on 8 August 1994.

Th is an authoritative picture of each and e v e ry legal nook a nd c r a n ny for the year 1992. v o l u me p r o v i d es

CASES Full coverage of all the decision of the Supreme Court, High Court and Court of C r i m i n al A p p e a l i n c l u d i ng un r e p o r t ed j ud gme n t s; significant C i r c u it C o u rt d e c i s i o ns a r e a l so included. STATUTES Every Act of the Oireachtas for the y e ar is outlined. Wh e r e r e l e v a n t, detailed discussion is p r o v i d ed to explain the background and pu r po se of an A c t. I m p o r t a nt S t a t u t o ry Instruments are also noted. LAW REFORM It a l so c o n t a i ns d i s c u s s i on on p r o p o s a ls for c h a n ge in the l aw a d v a n c e d by t he L a w R e f o rm Commission.

A W o r d i n Y o u r E a r - M ' L u d

The Editor Gazette

Dear Editor,

Many thanks for Dr. Hall's entertaining article "The Supreme Court Deflates Legal Egos" which appeared in the April edition of the Gazette. I was somewhat surprised to read that the Justices failure to ask questions ". . should not be interpreted as a sign of disinterest. . .". Surely it is a sine qua non that all judges, arbitrators and referees be disinterested. Perhaps your readers will be uninterested in the above observation.

ISSN 0791-1084; ISBN 1-85800-001-7 #85.00.

Yours etc,

remaining patient, tolerant, good- humoured and even-tempered.

THE ROUND HALL PRESS Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Tel: Int+353-1-289 2922. Fax: 289 3072

Patrick J. DAlton, B.C.L., Solicitor, 119, O'Connell Street, Limerick.

5. Courtesy and Humanity

• they will be courteous and considerate to all court users and court staff;

•

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