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GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 1979
emotional tensions in the home may reasonably be
suspected. Doctors finding marks of injury on children or
signs of emotional withdrawal should be alert to the
possibility of serious difficulties in the home background.
Again, neighbours noticing children being left unkept and
unattended to and roaming around the streets might
reasonably fear that things are not right within the home.
In cases like that it may not simply be the children alone
that need attention. The family as a group may be in
difficulties and in urgent need of help.
Secondly, I would like to see the present Children Acts
updated as soon as possible to facilitate action being
taken to protect children at risk. In particular I would like
the welfare of children to be dealt with by reference to the
social problems involved rather than by reference to
offences against or by children in the 1908 Act. A special
Task Force is at present working on' a review of the
Children Acts. It is important that the procedures for
taking children into immediate protective care pending
their being brought before the Court should be simplified
to permit instant removal of a child as a temporary
measure from the home in which he is believed to be at
immediate risk.
I would also like to see the grounds upon which Fit
Person Orders may be granted re-defined in a simpler way
so that a child at risk may be more readily protected. I
realise one must move with caution when considering
statutory interference with parental rights which are so
highly regarded in our Irish way of life and which, indeed,
are specially recognised in our Constitution. But parents
have obligations as well as rights. Where there is a serious
breakdown in the discharge of these obligations, and the
cases I have been talking about in this paper flow from
such a breakdown, we should be quick to recognise that
the children have rights also and we should be just as
zealous, if not more zealous, in defending their rights when
the denial of them leads to the children being physically or
emotionally damaged.
I NCOR P ORAT ED LAW SOCI ETY OF
I RELAND
The Succession Act
1965
by
William J. McGu i re
The above book was published by the
Society in 1968 and has been out of print
for some time. The Sucicty now proposes
publishing a 2nd revised edition.
Applications would be welcomed for the
position of Associate F-'ditor of the revised
edition and should be addressed to:—
I lie Director General.
The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
Blackball Mace,
Dublin 7.
INTERNATIONAL BAR
ASSOCIATION
Seminar on
Extraterritorial Problems in Insolvency
Proceedings held in London in April
1978
Topics:
The debtor's assets situated abroad in domestic bankruptcy;
Composition and discharge in international insolvency cases.
Professor Hans Hanisch, Geneva University
With comments from lawyers from France, Germany, Ireland, The
Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, UK and US, and the European
Commission.
Bound volumes of the papers are now available:
Price (to include postage and packing).
IBA members — S 15.00.
Non-IBA members — $25.00.
Applications to the International Bar Association, Byron
House, 7-9, St. James's Street, London SW1A 1EE.
SOLICITOR
A YOUNG SOLICITOR is required by the Electricity Supply
Board for the Legal Services Division of the Secretary's
Organisation at Head Office, Dublin. This Division works
closely with the Board's Solicitors, Messrs. Arthur Cox & Co.
EXPERIENCE:
Applicants should have at least three year's experience
as a Solicitor in general practice.
SALARY:
Starting salary will hav regard to experience and
qualifications and will be in a Scale rising to £9,620 per
annum.
BENEFITS:
The full range of personnel benefits are available
including a Contributory Superannuation Scheme and a
Medical Provident Fund.
Application forms may be obtained from:
Recruitment Administration,
E.S.B. Head Office,
Lower Fitzwilliam Street,
Dublin 2.
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