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GAZETTE
N
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C 0 R R E S P 0
D E
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APRIL 1992
The Editor,
Gazette
Sexist Forms of Address
Dear Editor,
I write to the
Gazette
as the forum
of last resort concerning a certain
phenomenon which I encounter from
time to time in dealing with some of
my professional colleagues. I am a
solicitor practising in the Dublin area
and occasionally, in the day to day
contact with some of my male
colleagues, I find that I am often
addressed by them as "love",
"dear", even "good girl" in the
course of mutual professional
dealings. In my experience these
terms of reference are used
exclusively as a form of deliberate
diminution of my equal professional
status. This is quite apparent from
the manner in which these terms are
inserted, either in consultation
(sometimes in the presence of
clients), or in telephone
conversation. I stress that these
terms of reference are employed by
both young and not so young alike.
Through the good offices of the
Gazette,
I would like to bring to the
attention of these offending solicitors
and to the members of the
profession as a whole that such
offensive and objectionable attitudes
in the conduct of professional affairs
are wholly inadequate and totally
unacceptable and as such require
immediate elimination. They are
damaging not only to the much
maligned image of the profession
itself, but more importantly they
have the propensity to interfere in
clients' affairs to the detriment of
the general public seeking a
professional service. I therefore take
this opportunity in exhorting your
readers to guard against such
prevailing and, at times, deeply
ingrained, sexist attitudes and not
to dismiss my contribution as one of
exaggerated hysteria.
I should add that this concern is one
which is shared by a number of my
colleagues and is not born of an
isolated incident.
I supply you herewith with my name
and address. I would rather that you
withold these as I fear that a certain
section of the profession has not
realised sufficient maturity to accept
what I say in the spirit in which it is
intended, namely, for improved
professional relations and respect for
all colleagues irrespective of their
sex.
Yours etc.,
(Name and address with editor).
Re: Proposed abolition of Irish
language requirement for solicitors.
The Editor,
The Gazette
Sir,
I was rather surprised to note in the
Gazette
(Viewpoint, Jan/Feb 1992)
that the Law Society has been urging
the Government to alter the law
relating to the requirement that those
seeking admission as solicitors or
barristers should as a matter of law
pass an examination in the Irish
language before they can be admitted.
I have not been aware of any great
pressure in the profession relating to
a change concerning this situation
nor indeed have I been aware of the
fact that the Society has decided to
make a decision to go on record as
being opposed to the present legal
situation.
I would of course agree with the
general tenor of the article which is
to the effect that only lip service has
been paid to the Irish language by
Government etc. but I do feel the
following points should be borne in
mind.
Firstly, the standard of Irish required
for the Society exams is not an
exacting standard and I do think
that it would be a very
unsatisfactory situation if learned
members of our profession are going
to be incapable of pronouncing or
understanding even the local place
names in their own country!
It is true to say that the legal
requirement is discriminatory and no
doubt if Government were serious
about the Irish language they would
provide adequate services at every
level in the language and all persons
dealing with the public would be
required to have a knowledge of the
language.
At a time when we are drawing
closer to our European partners
where almost all countries in the EC
have bilingual situations it seems in
my view to be a retrograde step for
the Society to adopt the position
which it is adopting in this case.
Yours etc.,
Tom O'Donnell
15 Mary St., Galway
The Editor,
Gazette
Sir,
I refer to your recent editorial in
relation to the necessity of sitting the
first and second Irish examinations.
I would like to make the following
points:-
a) I presume that the purpose of the
Irish examinations is to test the
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