The Gazette 1995

GAZETTE

JULY 1995

more sense than the original proposal which would have required those with ambition for judicial office to first patently manifest that ambition by attending training courses as a pre- qualification for possible appointment. The Minister intends to provide in the new Bill for a uniform retirement age of 70 for newly-appointed judges of the three highest courts. District Court judges are to remain eligible for extensions of terms from age 65 to 70 and 72 will remain the retirement age for existing High and Supreme Court judges. There seems no good reason why the fixed retirement age for District Court judges should not also be 70, to obviate the present somewhat retirement age makes sense and would go some way towards changing any perception that judges should be judged otherwise than on their individual fitness to serve, irrespective of what court they belong to. Finally, it is regrettable to note that, whereas she is proceeding with the original proposal to make solicitors as well as barristers eligible for appointment as Circuit Court judges, the Minister is apparently not willing to extend the eligibility of solicitors for appointment to the High or Supreme Courts. Perhaps, in the course of its passage through the Oireachtas, the new Bill will at least be amended to permit solicitor Circuit Court judges to be eligible for promotion to the Superior Courts after four years judicial service - as is the position in Northern Ireland. A solicitor who actually demonstrates his or her judicial abilities in the Circuit Court should at least be able to aspire to such a promotion. D IS YOUR FIRM PLANNING A B-B-Q? Why not at Blackball Place and leave all the work to Blackball Catering? For details contact: The Catering Manager, Blackhall Catering The Law Society, Blackhall Place Phone 671 0711 demeaning process of seeking Ministerial extensions. The standardisation of the judicial

President and Director General Visit Leitrim Bar Association T he President of the Law Society Patrick Glynn and Director General Ken Murphy visited Leitrim Solicitor's Bar Association on Tuesday 30 May. The President and Director General attended a meeting of the Bar Association and thereafter were entertained to lunch. They emphasised the importance of solicitors opposing measures such as Section 153 of the Finance Bill 1995. The fact that solicitors do so oppose such encroachments on the rights of citizens is very important. It was essential that the Law Society did so as a united body. This was very significant. It did not mean that solicitors were condoning tax evasion. The Director General and the President were congratulated by the President of Leitrim Solicitors Bar Association Michael P. Keane on the very sensible way they conducted this particular campaign and were assured that their efforts were much appreciated by solicitors all over the country. Mr. Murphy was congratulated on his appointment as Director General of the Law Society and on behalf of Leitrim Solicitors BarAssociation, Michael P. Keane, wished him every success in this onerous position. Leitrim Observer

Some members of Leitrim Bar Association with the Director General and President: Front Row: Mary Reynolds, Solicitor, Carrick on Shannon, Patrick Glynn, President, Law Society, Claire Moran, Solicitors Apprentice, (Cathal L. Flynn á Co), M.P. Keane, President, Leitrim Solicitors Bar Association (Flynn & McMorrow). Back Row: Conal Gibbons, Solicitor (Cathal L. Flynn & Co), Ken Murphy, Director General, Law Society, Michael Keane, (Flynn & McMorrow), Peter Collins, (Thomas P. Burke & Co), Brian Toolan, (Walter P. Toolan & Sons, Ballinamore).

Photograph: John Keaney.

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