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The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
[JUNF . 1922
being denied access to the Library, Halls
and premises of the Society.
I sincerely
hope that this state of affairs will be of
short duration.
If I dwell on these facts,
I do
so only so
far as they affect our
Profession. This Society is entirely non-
political and, needless to say, I have no
intention of addressing you on the political
state
of
our
country.
Intimately
con
versant, however, as our work is with the
social and commercial life of the community,
it follows that anything that injures the
community as a whole reacts with peculiar
force on our Profession
Bearing this in
mind, the Council as far back as January
last passed the following resolution :—
" We, the Council of the Incorporated Law
" Society of Ireland, recognising the injury
" done to the material well being of the
" community by public uncertainty and
" consequent disquietude do hereby express
" an earnest hope that the deliberations of
" the Irish Representatives may result in
" a decision bringing peace to our country,
" so that without delay the work of con-
" struction may begin and every citizen be
" free to take his part in building up the
" prosperity of the country on which the
" true interest of the legal profession must
" be always based."
To-day I fervently re-echo the sentiments
expressed in that resolution and I hope that
out of much turmoil and strife, much de
plorable
loss of
life, much anxiety and
depression, there will speedily come a new
and better state of affairs whereby con
fidence may be restored and peace prevail.
Later on in the same month of January
when
the Provisional Government was
established the Council
took
the earliest
opportunity of assuring the Minister for
Home Affairs, whom as a Solicitor they
heartily congratulated on his appointment
to so responsible a position, of their desire
to assist the Government by every means
in their power, whether in questions of legal
administration or otherwise, and that they
would welcome any suggestions made to
them with
that object.
Some time ago
rumours were in circulation that the new
Government contemplated sweeping changes
in the administration of the law in this
country.
It may well be that when an
Irish Government gets into working order
that matters—most
important matters—
regarding the legal administration in this
country will
come
under
review
and
revision.
If
legal
reform under a new
Government becomes practical politics this
Society will be found ready to co-operate
in any movement of the kind.
Speaking
for myself only, I have long held the view
that there is a pressing necessity for legal
reform in this country. This is not the time
to discuss this question much less to discuss
such reform in detail.
Some time ago two
articles
entitled
" The
Passing
of
a
Profession " appeared in the
Irish Times.
The writer adopted the
nom-de-plume
of
" Solicitor."
It was a bold article and,
whilst I do not agree with everything in it,
the opinion
therein expressed that legal
procedure in Ireland should be less cumber
some, more expeditious and less expensive
is, it seems to me, a sound and well founded
opinion. The public and the Profession
would alike gain by simplification and
dispatch. The reform of the County Court,
for instance, has long ago been pressed for
by the mercantile community, but without
success. This Society
introduced several
County Court Bills in the British House of
Commons,
but
none
of
them
ever
reached the Statute Book. Again reminding
you that I am offering no opinion but my
own, I venture to think that a Committee
set up by an Irish Government would be
very well employed in considering the whole
question of the administration of the law
in this country. This Society is the natural
mouthpiece of the Profession.
Its Council
is composed of men of ripe and varied
experience in the practice of the law.- The
wealth of information and experience which
will be thus at the disposal of any Govern
ment will be of enormous advantage in
consideration of any questions affecting
legal administration.
In conclusion, we all as Irishmen fervently
long to see established in our midst an Irish
Government broad-based upon the people's
will. We trust that at the earliest moment
the people will be given an opportunity of
constitutionally expressing their will and
that our country may then enter, under the
aegis of a well ordered native Government
upon a period of peace and prosperity.