The Gazette 1976

GAZETTE

SEP T EM BER 1976

16.1 The services provided by the Library have been expanded. Efforts have been made to increase the number of copies of students' textbooks to cope with their increasing number. The process of photo- copying has greatly reduced the number of books lent, as most Courts now accept photocopies without question. Intricate queries continue to be received, mainly from abroad, dealing with the tracing of ancestors who were solicitors. 16.2 Progress is being made in gradually re-issuing the unreported judgments of the High and Supreme Courts by subject, instead of in chronological order, as heretofore. The object is to facilitate inquiries about judgments on a particular subject. Some of the judgments of Circuit Judge McWilliam, before he ascended the High Court bench, have become available, and it is hoped that this will induce other Circuit Judges to part with their written judgments. Mr. Wylie's book on Irish Land Law, and Mr. Johnston's book on the Wealth Tax, published during the year, have been welcomed by all. 16.3 Since June, 1976, a short list of written judgments, issued monthly, containing a summary of all 1976 written judgments of the High Court and Supreme Court, has been issued as a pink page supplement to the Gazette ; this has proved a great boon to practitioners as has also the fact that unreported judgments are now printed on green paper, and thus easily traceable. 16.4 New editions of standard legal textbooks, as well as of new textbooks and issues of periodicals have been acquired. These were listed in the August, 1976, Gazette'. There is unfortunately little space for the planned expansion of the Reference Section at the moment, but it is hoped to make this a priority, when the Library is transferred to Blackhall Place during the Summer Vacation of 1977. Appreciation and thanks are expressed to Mr. Desmond Clarke, former Librarian of the Royal Dublin Society, who has given invaluable assistance in the planning and design of the new library, and to the members of the Blackhall Place Commiteee for discussing these plans. 16.5 The total amount spent on the purchase of books for the year ending 30th April, 1976, was £3,310 and on the purchase of periodicals was £418, making a total of £3,728. The total amount spend on binding was £583. The corresponding amounts last year in respect of books were £1,567, periodicals, £307, and binding, £310. In view of inflation, there is an inevitable tendency for these prices to rise, but it is essential for the Library to provide essential books for the needs of members. 16.6 The legal publications of the European Communities, consisting of the daily Legislation and Information Sections of the Journal, the Bulletin, the Annual Report of the Council, and the judgments of the Court, have been received. Arrangements were made, upon my visit to Strasbourg, to receive the legal publications ot fhe Council of Europe. 16.7 The Librarian attended the Annual Conference of the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians in Oxford in September. He also took part, with 25 other Irish Librarians of the Special Libraries Section of the Irish Library Association, in a visit to the institutions of the European Economic Community—the Commission and the Council of Ministers in Brussels, and the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice and the Official Office of Publications in Luxembourg. As an academic lawyer, I was awarded a Bursary by the Council of Europe to attend the Fourth Conference of Professors of Law on the teaching of Comparative Law in Strasbourg in October, and out of 140 participants, was the only Irish representative. Appreciation is expressed to the Council and to the Director General for their assistance. 17.1 Since the last Report a year ago the Cost Committee met on a number of occasions to complete the preparation of the Society's Submission to the Consultant appointed by the National Prices Commission. With considerable measure of help from the Society's Accountants, Messrs. Cooper & Lybrands, a final draft of the Submission was achieved which the Committee thought was the best they could reasonably hope to produce having regard both to the limited time at their disposal and the practical difficulties of acquiring any further statistical information or drawing further conclusions from that information within the time available. 17.2 The Submission was completed and presented to Professor Lees in February. Subsequently the Committee answered some queries which he raised on it particularly in relation to the basis for the minimum charge of £50.00 in Conveyancing matters referred to in paragraphs 16. (i) (b) (ii) and (iv) and the proposed abolition of the Land Registry half scale fee. 17.3 The Committee understand that since receipt of the Submission Professor Lees has submitted an interim Report to the National Prices Commission and that his final Report should be in the hands of the Commission by the time this Report is published. 17.4 Despite Submissions by the Society the Commission has declined to deal with any proposed increase before Professor Lees' final Report is available. 17.5 The Council caused copies of the Submission to be circulated confidentially to members of the profession in August and the Committee, who have suggested to the Council that a permanent Costs Committee might be formed, think that it would be helpful to them or their Successors if any member wished to make any constructive criticism or suggestion arising either out of matters covered in the Submission or any other matter in relation to costs.

L I BRARY

Colum Gavart Duffy Librarian

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Colum Gavan Duffy, Librarian and Editor of the Gazette

COSTS COMM I T T EE

Gerald J. Moloney, Chairman Denis J. Bergin Thomas Callan Laurence Cullen John J. Dockrell Dominic R e ams William D. McEvoy Robert Pierce John Rochford Raymond M. Walker

Gerald J. Moloney, Chairman

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