The Gazette 1996

APRIL/MAY 1996

brochure, which should now contain details of the destination, transport, accommodation, passport and visa requirements, price, taxes, bonding and so forth. In particular a package organiser or tour operator cannot avoid liability for any misleading or false information contained in a brochure and to my mind this would include photographs. A holidaymaker now has the statutory right to compensation if he or she relied on information which proves subsequently to be misleading or false. Recent legislation also sets out detailed requirements as to the essential terms and form of the package contract. | complaints "at the earliest opportunity" both to the person responsible for their dissatisfaction and to the package organiser or local representative. To avoid doubt the complaint should be in writing. Once the complaint has been made the package organiser is then obliged to make prompt efforts to find a solution. Complaints should be made no later than 28 days from the completion of the package holiday. I have only set out some of the more interesting and practical aspects of the recent legislation and I would comment that the legislation deals with many other aspects of 'holiday law'. In reality, I would imagine it will take some time before the full consequences of the recent legislation become apparent. As many cases are dealt with privately through Arbitration rather than the more public forum of the courts, I would welcome the thoughts of practitioners with a view to writing a follow-up article at a later date. • I Conclusion ; Complaints An important aspect to the recent legislation is the fact that holiday makers are now required to make

Pictured at the recent Burren Law School held at Newtown Castle, Ballyvaughan were l-r: judge Gerard J. Houghton, Her Honour Judge Catherine McGuinness, Brian Sheridan, Convener and Dr. Muireann Nf Bhrolcáin. Lawl i nk ' 9 6 Launched

Lawlink '96, a revolutionary new information service for solicitors, accountants and financial institutions was launched recently by the Minister for Justice, Nora Owen T.D. The new service offers fast and secure on-line access by computer to Land Registry files, the Companies Office, the Legal Diary and other relevant legal databases. In addition, Lawlink provides secure electronic mail (LawMail). The service is 70% owned by IFG Group Pic with the Law Society of Ireland holding 30%. Lawlink '96 has been designed following extensive feedback and liaison with people in the legal and financial professions to discover their exact needs from an on-line information service and to couple these needs with the best technology currently available. The software brings technology to all relevant staff and users regardless of their computer expertise thanks to

a user friendly interface. It also reduces costs by seamlessly integrating with organisations' existing computer technology. "Lawlink '96 promises to revolutionise the way information within these professions is communicated, accessed and scheduled," according to Frank Ryan, Chief Executive, Lawlink. "Using Lawlink, offices can access key information on-line in seconds saving time and resources that would otherwise be tied up carrying out these kind of tasks manually. In addition, Lawlink enables fast and safe transmission of messages and documents electronically saving

significant costs in terms of couriers and postage over traditional methods of communication," he said.

Learn to sail and have an enjoyable holiday at reasonable rates. Write / Phone for brochure. Baltimore Sailing School, Baltimore, Co. Cork. Ph. (028) 20141

For further information contact Lawlink Ltd, 19 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 - 6 7 6 2222. Fax: 01 - 6 7 6 2616. E-mail: Sales@lawlink.ie. •

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