The Gazette 1971

CORRESPONDENCE

with Mr. O'Reilly, Assistant Secretary and other officials of the Commissioners. The Council have formed the opinion that Solicitors re not entitled to make any return for the purposes of Section 176 of the Income Tax Act 1967 which would involve disclosing directly or indirectly confidential in- formation received by them in their professional capa- city. Unless and until is is decided otherwise in the Superior Courts, the Council will so advise members of the Society. The Council instructed me to state that if the Com- missioners wish to dispute the foregoing interpretation in Section 176 and the duties of Solicitors in relation thereto, the Council are prepared to co-operate in resolving the problem by arranging to have a tpst case instituted in tne High Court. I look forward to hearing from you in due course. Yours faithfully, ERIC A. PLUNKETT Secretary mb/3/8. THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF DEEDS The Assistant Registrar of Deeds Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, DUBLIN 1. Dear Sir, I enclose copy of a letter dated August 4th which we have received from P. J. O'Driscoll & Sons, Bandon. We published a statement about the use of parchment for memorials in the February issue of the Society's Gazette. In that statement you said that you would later on suggest a form and size of memorials which would suit your records system. I should be obliged if you will let me have further information to clarify the matter for our members. Yours faithfully, ERIC A. PLUNKETT, Secretary 10/8/71

The Secretary, Department of Justice, 72/76 St. Stephen's Greene, DUBLIN 2. COURTS BILL 1971: Dear Sir,

4th August, 1971

I refer to previous correspondence in connection with this Bill. For the purpose of obtaining information for representations to the Minister on the numerical strength of the judiciary in the Cricuit and District Courts, the Council wish me to obtain the following particulars: (a) The number of cases under various heads heard in the High Court during the last year for which figures are available which will now fall within the extended jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. (b) Similar information in regard to the cases which will now fall within the increased jurisdiction of the District Court. The Council are of opinion that serious difficulties will arise in the administration of justice unless there are sufficient judges and justices to ensure the proper dispatch of all business in these Courts. If, as seems likely, the additional business in the Cir- cuit and District Courts requires further appointments to the bench it will be necessary to introduce legisla- tion or to amend the present Bill. The Council suggest that such an amendment might empower the Minister to increase the number of the judiciary by regulation for which there is an analogous precedent in the amendment to the Courts (Constitutional Provisions) Act which enables the Government to increase judicial salaries by regulation. The Council would also like to have information as to the provision of additional Court rooms to deal with civil and criminal business in Dublin and elsewhere. The Department at one time published judicial statistics as is done in England and Northern Ireland and the Council think that a strong case can be made for resuming this publication as being of importance to the legal profession and to the public at large. Yours faithfuoly, ERIC A. PLUNKETT Secretary

REVENUE COMMISSIONERS

Mr. E. Plunkett Incorporated Law Society of Ireland Four Courts DUBLIN

The Secretary, Revenue Commissioners, Dublin Castle, DUBLIN 2

12th August, 1971

4th August, 1971

Dear Sir, I refer to your letter of 10th inst. and to the. com- munication from Messrs P. J. O'Driscoll & Sons, Solicitors, Bandon, which accompanied it.

Dear Sir, The Council of this Society has now received a report from their representatives who attended meetings 134