The Gazette 1976

GAZETTE

SEP T EM BER 1976

6.1 The function of the Parliamentary Committee is to examine all new legislation introduced by the Oireachtas and to consider same fully and, where necessary, to inform the profession of the legislation and the extent to which same has altered general practice or procedures and also, where necessary, to make representations to the particular Government Department sponsoring the legislat on. The Com- mittee also from time to time looks at existing legislation and procedures, with a view to making representa- tions to appropriate authorities and State and other Departments with a view to obtaining amending or other updated legislation. 6.2 During the year under review in particular, the Succession Act 1965 has been considered, having regard to experience gained since the Act was introduced and became law and a paper of suggested amendments was prepared by Mr. Don Binchy, Committee Member, and correspondence has taken place with various interested parties and the general views of Bar Associations have been requested as a preliminary to preparing representations for alterations and amendments in the Act. 6.3 The Building Society's Bill 1975 was fully considered by the Committee and a very helpful and useful memorandum was prepared by the President, Mr. P. C. Moore and submitted to the appropriate Department in relation to the suggested amendments and alterations in the Bill. 6.4 The Rules for the Government of Prisons Regulations (S.I. No. 30 of 1976) were fully considered by the Committee and by reason of decisions come to by the Committee and subsequently approved of by the Council, this matter is sub judice at present. 6.5 The Emergency Powers Bill 1976 and the Criminal Law Bill 1976 were studied in detail by the Committee immediately on the introduction of the Bills in question and after a very full and thorough examination by the Committee and discussions as to the provisions of certain Sections in the Criminal Law Bill 1976, representations were made to the Department of Justice, particularly in relation to the right of search of members of the legal profession entering a prison for the purpose of interviewing a client. The legislation in question was fully debated in the Dáil and the Committee hope to meet with the Minister for Justice for the purpose of discussing the Sections in respect of which representations have been made to the Department of Justice and the outcome of discussions will be notified to the members when these discussions have concluded. 6.6 The Anti-Pollution (Waters) Bill 1976 is presently being examined by Mr. Adrian Bourke and the White Paper on nullity is being examined by Mr. Bruce St. John Black, Vice-President and when their reports are to hand, the legislation in question will be finally considered by the Committee. 6.7 The Family Home Protection Act of 1976 is also being fully considered by the Committee, with the exception of the aspects of the Act which affect conveyancing matters which have been left by the Committee to be dealt with by the Conveyancing Committee. 6.8 Apart from some special meetings which have taken place during the year, the Committee has met regularly each month and as Chairman, I would like to express my appreciation of the work carried out by the Committee in the examination of the legislation in question and, in particular, the work of the Committee members who individually have taken on the separate task of examining specific Acts and legislation during the year.

P AR L I AME N T ARY COMM I T T EE

William A. Osborne, Chairman William B. Allen Donal G. Binchy Adrian P. Bourke Joseph L. Dundon John J. Nash James W. O'Donovan

William A. Osborne, Chairman

7.1 In the year to April 1976 the Finance Committee has had to contend with increasing overheads in all areas and this fact is borne out by the audit accounts of the Society for the period in question. 7.2 The Budget for the coming year indicates that overheads will increase and will continue to increase during the next few years. Apart from the increase anticipated in overheads, provision must also be made for the funding of the expenditure on Blackhall Place and to some extent the cost of providing the new educational programme, when the scheme comes into full operation. 7.3 This additional expenditure was forecasted by Mr. Gerald Hickey, Chairman of the Finance Committee in 1974 and at the half yearly meeting in Westport in May 1975 and at the Annual Meeting in November 1975. To meet these obligations, it is necessary to increase from January 1977 the members' subscription and the Practising Certificate fee by a total of £25, and it is anticipated that further increases will be required next year. 7.4 The compensation fund has stood at a figure ranging between £350,000 and £400,000 for the past few years. To guard against the continuing inflationery trends the Council have decided that the fund should be built up gradually in the coming years and hence, the Council has increased the compensation fund contribution by a sum of £25 from January next. At the 30th April 1976 the compensation fund stood at a figure of £442,809. Ascertained losses and other expenses for the year ended in April last amounted to £42,148.

F I NANCE COMM I T T EE

William A. Osborne, Chairman

Walter Beatty Peter Murphy

Peter D. M. Prentice Patrick F. O'Donnell

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