The Gazette 1987

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1 9 87

GAZETTE

New Law Reform Commission Appointed The Government has appointed Mr. Justice Ronan Keane to be the President of the Law Reform Com- mission. His appointment will be virtually a full time one, but he may sit as a High Court Judge if required by the President of the High Court. The other members of the Commit- tee are Simon O'Leary, Barrister-at- Law, who will be a full time member, John F. Buckley, Solicitor, William Duncan, Lecturer in Law Trinity College, Dublin, and Maureen Gaffney, Clinical Psychologist, who will be part-time members. The Commission- has been asked to prepare in consultation with the Attorney-General a new programme for law reform for sub- mission by the Taoiseach to the Government. The Government has indicated it's view that a short pro- gramme containing a small number of important issues where the law is out of date is desired. The Government has indicated that among the areas where it bel- ieves law reform to be desirable and which it believes would benefit from study by the Commission are: 1 . The reform of Conveyancing Law and Practice in areas where this could lead to sav- ings for house purchasers. 2. Sexual offences generally, in- cluding the law relating to rape and child sexual abuse. 3. The law relating to sheriffs, the collection of taxes and debt collection. 4. A number of issues relating to compensation in personal injury cases. 5. Various criminal law matters, including sentencing policy, in- dexation of fines, confiscating the proceeds of crime and up- dating a number of offences which are still governed by nineteenth-century legislation. The new Commission commenc- ed it's work on the 2nd January 1987 and it is understood that it hopes to present it's draft pro- gramme shortly. High Court Judge Appointed The Government has appointed Mr. Richard Johnson, SC, to be a judge of the High Court to succeed Mr. Justice Ronan Keane, who is now Chairman of the Law Reform

the profession and the clients of the profession is maintained at the highest levels." John Dowling, aged 42, moves to the Bar Council from the Association of Higher Civil Servants where he was General Secretary since 1981. He is married to RTE Executive Joan Collins, and they have two daughters. Mr. Dowling also worked as a Training Specialist with the In- stitute of Public Administration and as a Training Advisor with AnCO. He is a science graduate of Trinity College Dublin and began his career as a teacher before moving to the youth organisation Foroige. In recent years Mr. Dowling has undertaken post graduate studies in Industrial Relations. The Government has nominated Mr. Michael Anthony Moriarty, SC, and Mr. John Bernard Cassidy, SC, for appointment by the President as temporary judges of the Circuit Court. A Government statement said that the appointments arose from the increase in work on some circuits. Mr. Moriarty (40) was educated at Blackrock College; University College, Dublin; and Kings Inns, Dublin. He was called to the Bar in October 1968, and to the Inner Bar in 1982. Mr. Cassidy (55) was educated at Santa Sabena, Sutton; O'Con- nell's Schools, Dublin; UCD and Kings Inns. He was called to the Bar in 1950 and to the Inner Bar in 1973. Temporary Judges Nominated Ten firms of solicitors in Aber- deen have joined forces to seek compensation for families bereav- ed in the Shetland helicopter disaster. They represent 14 families who lost relatives when 45 people were killed in the recent crash when the helicopter was bringing staff ashore from the Brent oilfield. A statement from the solicitors said they would pool their ex- perience and resources to in- vestigate the circumstances of the tragedy and arrange representation at the accident inquiry. Shetland Helicopter Disaster

Commission. Born in Tralee, Co. Kerry, in 1937 Mr. Johnson is son of the late Dis- trict Justice D. F. Johnson. He was educated at CBS Tralee, Glenstal Abbey, and UCD. Called to the Bar in 1 960, he has been a member of the Munster Circuit and has prac- tised on the South West Circuit. I

V J* In Brief v ) WB •

Bar Council 1987 Officers

The Bar Council of Ireland has elected Mr. Seamus McKenna, SC, chairman for 1987. Mr. Ian Bren- nan was elected honorary secretary and Mr. Colm Allen honorary treasurer. Other members of the Bar Coun- cil are: Senior — John Rogers, At- torney General; David Byrne, Paul Carney, Frank Clarke, Nial Fennel- ly, Patrick MacEntee, Seamus McKenna, Diarmuid O'Donovan, Peter Shanley, Ralph Sutton. Junior — Colm Allen, Bernadette Cronin, Elizabeth Dunne, Michael Durack, Kevin Feeney, John Gallagher, Michael O'Shea, Mary Ellen Ring, John Walsh. Director Appointed to the Bar Council The Bar Council wishes to an- nounce the appointment of Mr. John Dowling to the new post of Director to the Council. He takes up duty on Monday 2nd February. "The rapid increase in member- ship of the Law Library, which has grown from 300 barristers in 1976 to the present level of 640 is a reflection of the increased demand from the public for legal services from the Bar" said Seamus McKenna SC, Chairman of the Bar Council. "The Law Library" he continued, "is a collegiate centre for barristers unique to Ireland and the creation of the new Director post is one of the developments the Bar Council is undertaking to ensure that the representation of the interests of

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