159 / 244
GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 1979
in which they dealt with public, press and students, having regard to the problems which
arose in this area, and it showed that the development of their education programme and
systems over the last two to three years has proved correct.
9.8
To the Chairman of the Registrar's Committee and his Committee from a public
relations point of view, there can be nothing but unqualified thanks, as their function is to
deal with the members of our profession who are unable to give to the public the proper
services and as a result, they leave other members open to justifiable criticism because of
individual neglect or default. We should anticipate the future more in relation to public
complaints, we should be able to help our colleagues more in this area by assisting them
when we realise their difficulties, once it is not to the detriment of any client. Where there
are complaints in areas of the country or Dublin, immediate communication should be
established with one of the profession in the area to give assistance.
9.9
During the year Margaret Byrne was appointed as librarian and may she have
many years of fulfilment in this post.
9.10
John Buckley and the Committee dealing with the
Gazette
must be congra-
tulated on their fundamental contribution to their profession, without which the solicitors
would undoubtedly be at a loss of essential information. The publication has improved
with each issue.
9.11
Communications have continued to develop with our neighbouring Law
Societies and other bodies of mutual interests and our President has here and abroad
furthered this.
9.12
This whole area of public relations at the moment is so wide that it might be
considered that it should be dealt with by a full-time officer who would anticipate all areas
of needs and co-relate them, particularly having regard to the fact that it is being
suggested that the monopoly of conveyancing be investigated and that advertising be
allowed and'we have to meet a Restrictive Practices Inquiry. There are undoubtedly many
areas in which the profession is going to come under such investigations in the very near
future and it is very important that the attitude of the Societey be fully and properly
briefed and informed beforehand to transmit it to the public on behalf of the profession
and that it is a specialised job and would be in co-operation with Mr. Maxwell Sweeney.
9.13
The Director General and administration staff have always during the year
continued to keep communications open and public relations of a high standard with
profession, government departments, media and other areas sometimes under difficulty,
and are due sincere thanks. To the members of the Committee, my sincere appreciation
for their help during the year.
EDUCATION
COMMITTEE
John F. Buckley
Frank Daly
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Adrian Bourke
Maurice R. M. Curran
W. D. McEvoy
Rory O'Donnell
• t
m
W1
John F. Buckley
Chairman
10.1
This Committee again spent much of its time dealing with individual
applications from apprentices, prospective apprentices and masters. As my predecessor
said in the last annual report each apprentice appears to consider himself or herself unique
and requires each individual problem referred to the Committee.
10.2
The principal event of the year was, of course, the opening of the Society's new
Law School and the commencement of the first professional course. The Committee was
delighted that Kevin O'Leary, the Principal of the Training Course at the Australian
National University at Canberra, who is one of the founding figures of professional legal
training and who has advised the Society in the planning of its course, was able to accept
the Society's invitation to attend the opening of the Law School and deliver the John
Mathews Memorial Lecture.
10.3
During the year the first of what is hoped will be a regular series of meetings
with those responsible for the education of the profession in England and Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland took place at Chester. The next meeting is scheduled to be held in
Dublin in February of 1980. Apart from the useful exchange of views about comparative
methods of education for the profession the most interesting development which has come
out of the first meeting is a movement towards mutual recognition of qualifications. This
object is one which will eventually be covered by an E.E.C. Directive but experience
shows that the Commission are usually pleased to adopt existing arrangements as long as
they are in accord with the aims of the Commission.
10.4
The prediction contained in the Society's document "Estimated Supply of and
demand for Solicitors in 1986 and 1991" appears to be proving accurate. Already there
161