144 / 462
APRIL 1992
applicant's oral and written skills
in that language. From memory,
I recall that both examinations
were very similiar as to content
and difficulty. I think it is both a
waste of time and money
especially on the applicant's
behalf, to have to sit almost two
identical examinations. It is very
well known, that the failure rate
is very, very low. The threshold
of both written and oral skills
required does not seem to be very
high. Therefore, it would seem a
farce that these examinations are
seen as a measurement of an
applicant's ability. In fact it
makes a mockery of the whole
system.
b) Rather than have two (almost
identical) examinations, I would
suggest that a day be set aside
either on the Professional or
Advanced Course (or both)
where students are taught a
basic legal vocabulary in Irish.
I am sure a student would rather
learn the Irish for District
Court, instalment order, consent,
adjournment, conveyance,
contract, etc., rather than for a
currach being rowed over
rough seas off the Kerry coast!
It would, therefore, seem to me that
the purpose of the Irish
examinations is self-defeating and
has now been rendered meaningless.
However, I would not see any
objection to the proposal as outlined
above.
Finally, in case any reader would
think that this is an anti-Irish letter,
I am a fluent speaker and this letter
has been written in an attempt to
defend the abuse of our native
language.
Yours etc.,
Feargal O'Dulaing
Solicitor
í
Roslevan,
Ennis,
Co. Clare.
Croatia Appeal
President, Incorporated Law Society
of Ireland,
Blackhall Place
Dear Colleague,
We are deeply grateful that you
responded to our appeal of 30.8.1991
and expressed your solidarity and
support with the Croatian people in
this bloody and dramatic struggle
for freedom.
The Republic of Croatia has been an
internationally recognised State since
15 January, 1992. We cannot thank
you enough for your contribution to
the realization of the centuries-old
dream of the Croatian nation and
Croatian lawyers through your
action, support and influence.
Unfortunately, Croatia has had to
pay very dearly for its freedom: tens
of thousands dead and wounded,
hundreds of thousands dislocated,
cities destroyed, levelled and more
than 1/3 of Croatian farms
destroyed . . . You most likely have
already received information about
this.
j
However, I want, in particular, to
inform you about the huge damage
suffered by Croatian lawyers in this
barbaric war against Croatia. The
war has struck around forty cities
since June, 1991. We mention only
some of these: Osijek, Vinkovci,
Vukovar, Ilok, Karlovac, Dubrovnik,
Sibenik, Zadar. Since this time,
lawyers in these towns and regions
have been unable to work. They are
left without any kind of income.
Some have been killed or wounded
and many of them have seen their
homes, apartments and offices
destroyed. We are speaking of about
400 lawyers and law clerks which is
1/3 of all lawyers in the Republic.
The Croatian Bar Association has
begun an action to help our
colleagues and in this aim, we have
founded the Croatian Lawyers Trust
to collect and distribute aid.
We are therefore appealing to you
and asking your bar associations and
members to join in this action of
i
collecting money for the above-
mentioned purpose. A special bank
account has been opened at the
Bank of Zagreb. Contributions can
be sent to: The Bank of Zagreb.
Foreign Currency Account Number:
30101-620-16-012101/2421717793
Croatian Lawyers Trust.
The Croatian Bar Association is
supervising the entire action.
Your inclusion in this action would
not mean only material help but
more support to the Croatian Bar
Association in its battle to establish
a legal state in our homeland after
this terrible war.
We thank you and express our
sincere and friendly greetings!
Mario Kos
President
Croatian Bar Association
41000 Zagreb,
Zrinjevac 15/11
Croatia.
•
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