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GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 1979
financial stability, which existed before we assumed the massive expenses involved in the
very necessary and totally successful move to Blackhall Place. To achieve this it is
proposed we keep our accounts on at least a break-even basis, that is to say, we may go
into overdraft during the course of a year but there should be no term loans and the assets
of the Society should be unencumbered.
7.10
Because of the fine work which has been done by the Registrar's Committee
and Compensation Fund Committee under Tom Shaw, with the very able assistance of P.
J. Connolly and Martin Healy, the Finance Committee has taken the view that, for the
coming year, the compensation fund contribution can be reduced. This has enabled us,
without substantially increasing the overall contribution payable to members, to plan to
make over the next two years, a significant inroad on the size of the debt overhanging the
Society, to such an extent that on projected figures, the Chairman of this Committee in
three years' time should be able to say to you that the Society has reached the equilibrium
for which we are seeking and that thereafter, assuming our more expansionist Council
members can be kept under control, there should be no capital expenditure of any
substantial nature in the foreseeable future. This should enable us from that time on to
keep subscriptions to a level which will increase only by the inflation index.
7.11
The Retirement Pension Scheme goes from strength to strength. You will
receive a circular shortly which will set out the present status of the scheme, but given the
tax advantages involved, it seems to me that all of our members who can afford to do so,
should be a member of some pension scheme and having analysed the matter from a
personal viewpoint, I have come down in favour of the Law Society's scheme: I can say
no more!
7.12
Professional indemnity insurance has not been made compulsory but the world-
wide movement is in this direction. Any solicitor who practises without professional
indemnity insurance is, in my opinion, very foolish. The experience, where compulsory
insurance has been brought in, is that the cost to every member goes up substantially.
Accordingly, I would suggest, to those members who have not insurance, that they would
be saving, not only themselves but all their colleagues, expense if they voluntarily took out
insurance.
7.13
I have had the privilege to chair a committee of my mentors: to them my
thanks, as also to Jim Ivers, Director-General, and P. J. Connolly, Director of Finance.
8.1
Period: 1st September 1978 to 2nd October 1979:
DISCIPLINARY
Meetings held
20
COMMITTEE
*
—-
8.2
New applications
34
r
,
. . . ~ .
Dealt with as follows:
Gerard M. Doyle
.
Chairman
(a) No prima facie case found
5
Thomas Bacon
(b) Prima facie case found
22
James R. c. Green
(
c
) Cases not yet processed
2
Patrick n'JUm™
( d) C a s e s
P ?
s t
P °
n e d
4
Roderick O'Connor
(
e
) Applications not properly before Committee
1
Frank O'Donnell
13 cases from the preceding period were struck out in the period under review.
Brian Russell
_
. ,
Robert McD. Taylor
8.3
At hearing:
(a) Findings of misconduct
10
^
^ ^ j y
1
(b) Findings of no misconduct
9
(c) Withdrawn before hearing
,
1
jgk
1
Adjourned generally
2
(e) Adjourned
4
(0 Awaiting hearing
2
i
8.3
Cases presented to High Court
15
The outcome was:
(a) Suspension from practice (to be reviewed)
2
^fi-g
J B
(c) At present before Court
2
Gerard M.
Doyle
(d) Costs awarded to Society
7
Chairman
(e) Adjourned generally
2
159