The Gazette 1987

GAZETT INCORPORATE D LAWSOCIET Y OF IRELAND Vol. 81 No. 2 March 1987 Viewpoints Solicitor TD's

MARCH 19 87

GAZETTE

In this Issue

Viewpoints

Alibi Notices

A significant feature of the recent Dail elections was the increase in the number of Solicitors elected T.D.'s. The trend in recent years is for the number of lawyers, who previous- ly had been the best represented professional group in the Dail, to decline. In the 1987 election one Solicitor, David Molony, did not seek re-election and one sitting Deputy, Liam Cosgrave Junior, was defeated but, against these losses in numbers, seats were won for the first time by Dermot Ahern, Anne Colley, Charles Flanagan, Pat McCartan, John O'Donoghue and Brian Swift. They joined their re- elected professional colleagues, Patrick Cooney, Brian Cowen, Thomas Enright, Thomas Fitz- patrick, James O'Keefe, Desmond O'Malley, Alan Shatter and Mervyn Taylor. It is to be welcomed that solicitors have been elected to represent the entire spectrum of political parties in Dail Eireann. It is good to see that the younger members of the profession are taking an active interest in politics at this level. Solicitors have a good deal to contribute, not only as legislators, but also as people whose professional calling gives them a particular insight into the difficulties which face a citizen in contemporary Ireland. Congratulations Congratulations are due to John L. Murray S.C. on his appointment as Attorney General. In con- gratulating him, some words of ap- preciation of his predecessor would not be amiss. At the time John Rogers took office he was the subject of a good deal of criticism, much of it relating to his youthfulness and alleged in- experience. His performance in of-

fice has brought widespread praise and nowhere more than in relation to his work in tackling the problem of compensation for the Stardust victims. By arranging for the establishment of the Tribunal, which has made awards to hun- dreds of victims, he brought to a sane and caring conclusion a situa- tion which was rapidly becoming a public scandal. It had been abun- dantly clear that the normal pro- cesses of litigation through the Courts were not going to provide a solution to the victims' claims for damages. It was a situation in which the State had to accept responsibility to fund the compen- sation and the manner in which the Tribunal was established and operated has received widespread approval. Whether the former Attorney- General's work in endeavouring to re-vitalise the operations of the Law Reform Commission will be successful remains to be seen. To date external factors have prevented a number of its recom- mendations being implemented. John Rogers took such steps as seemed to him to be necessary in establishing the new Commission. It remains for the Commission and it's legislative masters to prove that his faith was not misplaced.!

44

Legislation, 1986

Stamp Duty and Mergers

47

53

The Judge in Ireland

59

Correspondence

63

In Brief

Professional Information

65

Executive Editor: Mary Buckley Editorial Board: Charles R. M. Meredith, Chairman John F. Buckley Gary Byrne Daire Murphy Michael V. O'Mahony Maxwell Sweeney Advertising: Sean O hOisin. Telephone: 305236 307860 Printing: Turner's Printing Co. Ltd., Longford. The views expressed in this publication save where otherwise indicated, are the views of the contributors and not necessarily the views of the Council of the Society. The appearance of an advertisement in this publication does not necessarily indicate approval by the Society for the product or service advertised. Published at Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 Tel.: 710711. Telex: 31219 Fax: 710704.

GAZETTE BINDERS

Binders which will hold 20 issues of the Gazette are available from the Society.

PRICE £5 . 14 (incl. VAT) + 87p postage

35