The Gazette 1976

GAZETTE

January-February 1976

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

THE President, Mr. William A. Osborne, took the Chair at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, 27th November, 1975, in the Library of Solicitors' Buildings, Four Courts. The notice convening the meeting, and the minutes of the Ordinary General Meeting held in Westport in May, 1975, were taken as read, and were subsequently signed. The President then requested that the accounts and balance sheets for 1974-75 be adopted. This motion was formally proposed by Mr. Peter D. M. Prentice, seconded by Mr. John Nash, and was passed unanimously. Mr. Gerald Hickey then proposed, and Mr. Robert McD. Taylor seconded, the motion that Messrs. Coopers & Lybrand be appointed Auditors for the coming year. Report of the Scrutineers relating to Ballot for the Council 1975/76 A meeting of the scrutineers appointed at the Ordinary General Meeting of the Society held in May, 1974, together with the ex-officio scrutineers was held on 20th November, 1975. Nominations for ordinary membership of the Council were received from 38 candidates all of which were declared valid and the scrutineers directed that their names be placed on the ballot paper. The following candidates were duly nominated as provincial delegates in accordance with bye-law 29 (a) of the Society and were returned unopposed: Ulster—Peter Murphy, Munster—Dermot G. O'Donovan, A meeting of the scrutineers was held on Thursday, 20th November, 1975. The poll was conducted from 10.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. and the scrutiny was sub- sequently held The result of the ballot was as follows: The valid poll was 709. The following candidates received the number of votes placed after their names, and were elected: William A. Osborne 652, John F. Buckley 631, Mrs. Moya Quinlan 631, John Carrigan 598, Walter Beatty 595, Joseph L. Dundon 591, Patrick C. Moore 588, Thomas D. Shaw 585, Bruce St.J. Blake 570, Patrick Noonan 546, Anthony E. Collins 526, Maurice R. Curran 520, John Maher 513, Patrick F. O'Donnell 511, John B. Jermyn 505, William D. McEvoy 503, Robert McD. Taylor 500, Peter D. M. Prentice 493, Francis J. Lanigan 491, Laurence Cullen 480, John J. Nash 476, James W. O'Donovan 471, Donal G. Binchy 465, Michael P. Houlihan 464, David R. Pigot 464, Bren- dan A. McGrath 461, Gerald Hickey 460, William B. Allen 436, Adrian P. Bourke 432, Ernest J. Margetson 429, Miss Carmel Killeen 421. The foregoing candidates were returned as ordinary members of the Council for the year 1975/76. The following members also received the number of votes placed after their names: Gerard M. Doyle 413, Raymond T. Monaghan 404, Brian J. O'Connor 377, Eamonn P. King 362, Philip E. McCourt 333. Patrick J. Bergin 262, and Patrick J. O'Donovan 188. The President declared the result in accordance with the ballot. Report of the Council The President stated that, as last year, the Annual Report had been printed in the Gazette, and each Leinster—Christopher Hogan, Connaught—Patrick J. McEllin.

Report had been prepared by the Chairman of the Committee concerned. The President proposed the adoption of the President's and Council's Reports, which were on the same lines as last year. He wished to thank members of the Council, and particularly ordinary members who had been assigned to the Committees for the magnificent work they had undertaken during the year. The general motion "That the Report of the Council for 1975-76 be adopted" was moved by the President, seconded by Mr. P. Prentice and passed unanimously. The Report of each Committee was then taken separately. The adoption of the Report of the Registrar's Committee was proposed by Mr. Frank O'Donnell, who thanked all the members for their exceptional hard work due to adverse publicity. Mr. Quentin Crivon mentioned the fact that in many cases Solicitors' Accountant Certificates were in arrears in 1974 and 1975. If these were in order in 1973, surely it could be presumed that they were also in order in 1974 and in 1975, until the contrary was proved. The President said that meetings of the Committee had been held regularly, but the position was unsatis- factory. From January, 1976, the Regulations would have to be strictly enforced, and an up-to-date Accountant's Certificate would have to be presented before the licences would issue. In reply to Mr. Crivon, the President stated that an Indemnity Policy would not be required. In England, due to high premiums, the compulsory insurance scheme had not been a success. Mr. Crivon felt that the situation should be examined, as there appeared to be no difficulty in obtaining the statutory proofs. Mr. Anthony O hUadhaigh said he remembered that the attempt to include compulsory insurance when the Solicitors' Act 1954 was passed had been resisted by then then Government. Mr. Brendan O'Maoileoin was very con- cerned about press chicanery in its recent attacks upon the profession. He felt that the Profession should only entertain complaints by individuals, and seek redress against the Press through the Courts. The President said that they had ignored this unjustified publicity, and that the profession was generally now held in higher esteem. Mr. Patrick Noonan said that the President had acted in a masterly way in replying to criticism on Television. The Report was then adopted. The adoption of the Compensation Fund Com- mittee 's report was then proposed by Mr. Frank O'Donnell, and adopted unanimously. The adoption of the Report of the Privileges Committee was proposed by Mr. Michael Houlihan, who expressed the hope that the policies of members would be expanded. It was adopted unanimously. The adoption of the Report of the Parliamentary Committee was proposed by Mr. Peter Prentice, who thanked the members for their great assistance. This had been a year of great parliamentary activity par- ticularly in regard to tax law. This Report was passed. The adoption of the Report of the Finance Com- mittee was proposed by Mr. Gerald Hickey, who paid a special tribute to Mr. Healy for looking after the investments of the Society so carefully. Mr. Crivon, in referring to Blackhall Place, stated that an under- taking had been given to the members that its upkeep would not cost them one penny. The Report now mentioned a subscription of £20. The members were 3