The Gazette 1995

GAZETTE

MARCH 1995

On 7 February the Irish Press printed an article headed "Divorce to boost need for legal aid". The report stated: "Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mervyn Taylor yesterday predicted an upsurge in the demand for civil legal aid if a Divorce Referendum is successful. The Cork Examiner reported on 7 February that "if divorce is introduced here in this summer's proposed Referendum, the Legal Aid Board which operated a series of law centres around the country will have sufficient resources at its disposal to require free legal aid, Law Reform Minister Mervyn Taylor pledged yesterday." An article by Gerry Whyte of TCD analysed the proposed changes in the legal aid service in the Irish Times on 8 February. An article by Alan O'Keeffe in the Sunday Independent on 12 February stated that judges, like every other public official, should not be immune to criticism said Supreme Court Judge Hugh O'Flaherty last night. This was part of his address to the NUJ Conference in Dingle. He also spoke of the importance of freedom of expression and of the need for an efficient courts system: "it seems to be that trials are taking too long," he said. Judge O'Flaherty referring to the media and the libel laws, said there was a strong argument that money damages should be confined to intentional defamation and all defamation awards should have reasonable limits. The Irish Times reported the speech under the heading "Judge favours lower defamation awards". 'Judiciary not above criticism: top judge'

'Crackdown on rogue solicitors a success'

SADSI Elects New Aud i tor The results of the election of Auditor of the 111th session of the Solicitors Apprentices Debating Society of Ireland were announced on 17 January. The new Auditor is Mr. Feargal Brennan who, in a keenly contested race, narrowly defeated the other candidate, Mr. Stewart Gilhooley. Mr. Brennan, an apprentice with Gerrard Scallan & O 'Brien, Solicitors in Dublin, hails from Waterford. He has placed effective representation for all apprentices at the top of his agenda for the coming year. He hopes that he can contribute to an improvement in conditions generally for apprentices while at the same time enhancing the debating and social tradition of the society. Indeed his year of office has kicked off to a good start. On Thursday, 16 February apprentices packed Blackhall Place for the first event of the year, the "Post Valentine Ball". Slightly less formal than the name might suggest, the event nonetheless was enjoyed by all in attendance and certainly augurs well for the coming year. On the debating side of things SADSI has already this year had orators expounding on multivarious themes, in the Irish Times, Observer Mace and Trocaire/Global Development Forum debating competitions, and SADSI, in keeping with the long tradition of the society will also be represented in the forthcoming Irish Moot Court competition. The Auditor certainly has a busy year ahead of him. pes PCTBOCARGO MAHNE SURVEYORS LTD. Capt. Thomas C. Nash M. INST. PET. Marine Consultancy: Independent Marine Surveyors; Vessel & Terminal Safety Inspection; Recruitment; Procedures Manuals. Cooleen House, Rushbrooke, Cobh, Co. Cork. Tel: 021-811677 Fax: 021-813009 Marine Expert Witness; Ship to Ship Transfer:

An article bearing the above headline was printed in the Sunday Press of 5 February by Howard Rose. The article stated "a crackdown on solicitors suspected of misusing clients' money has been a success". "The crackdown targeted solicitors thought to be acting illegally. The Society has used new powers under the 1994 Solicitors Amendment Act but its most effective sanction has been to demand audited accounts for each practice before renewing a licence to practise," it was reported. It was reported in the Irish Independent of 6 February that new moves to ease the blanket ban on reporting family law cases may be considered by the Equality and Law Reform Minister, Mervyn Taylor. It was reported that: "on foot of the High Court ruling in relation to incest cases, Mr. Taylor is said to be keen on hearing the views of lawyers and other groups on the ban on reporting family law cases. " In the Evening Herald on 30 January in an article headed 'Taylor in £2m legal aid move' it was stated that Equality and Law Reform Minister, Mervyn Taylor is to spend £2m on a range of measures to improve family, legal and counselling services. The article also stated that within a matter of weeks, the Minister will place a Civil Legal Aid Bill before the Cabinet as part of a package of reform and legislation which the Government wants to have in place before holding a divorce referendum possibly mid-June. In the Irish Times on 7 February it was reported that the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Taylor has announced legislation which will make the civil legal aid service a full legal entity nearly 22 years after the European Court of Human Rights case which led to its establishment. Mr. Taylor also announced a 24% rise in the legal aid boards' funding this year, and the doubling of its staff over the past two years. Family Law reporting ban review Civil Legal Aid

Catherine

Dolan

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