132 / 196
CORRESPONDENCE
The Secretary,
Department of Justice,
72/76 St. Stephen's Greene,
DUBLIN 2.
4th August, 1971
COURTS BILL 1971:
Dear Sir,
I refer to previous correspondence in connection with
this Bill. For the purpose of obtaining information for
representations to the Minister on the numerical
strength of the judiciary in the Cricuit and District
Courts, the Council wish me to obtain the following
particulars:
(a) The number of cases under various heads heard in
the High Court during the last year for which
figures are available which will now fall within the
extended jurisdiction of the Circuit Court.
(b) Similar information in regard to the cases which
will now fall within the increased jurisdiction of
the District Court.
The Council are of opinion that serious difficulties
will arise in the administration of justice unless there
are sufficient judges and justices to ensure the proper
dispatch of all business in these Courts.
If, as seems likely, the additional business in the Cir-
cuit and District Courts requires further appointments
to the bench it will be necessary to introduce legisla-
tion or to amend the present Bill. The Council suggest
that such an amendment might empower the Minister
to increase the number of the judiciary by regulation
for which there is an analogous precedent in the
amendment to the Courts (Constitutional Provisions)
Act which enables the Government to increase judicial
salaries by regulation.
The Council would also like to have information as
to the provision of additional Court rooms to deal with
civil and criminal business in Dublin and elsewhere.
The Department at one time published judicial
statistics as is done in England and Northern Ireland
and the Council think that a strong case can be made
for resuming this publication as being of importance to
the legal profession and to the public at large.
Yours faithfuoly,
ERIC A. PLUNKETT
Secretary
REVENUE COMMISSIONERS
The Secretary,
Revenue Commissioners,
Dublin Castle,
DUBLIN 2
4th August, 1971
Dear Sir,
The Council of this Society has now received a
report from their representatives who attended meetings
134
with Mr. O'Reilly, Assistant Secretary and other
officials of the Commissioners.
The Council have formed the opinion that Solicitors
re not entitled to make any return for the purposes of
Section 176 of the Income Tax Act 1967 which would
involve disclosing directly or indirectly confidential in-
formation received by them in their professional capa-
city. Unless and until is is decided otherwise in the
Superior Courts, the Council will so advise members
of the Society.
The Council instructed me to state that if the Com-
missioners wish to dispute the foregoing interpretation
in Section 176 and the duties of Solicitors in relation
thereto, the Council are prepared to co-operate in
resolving the problem by arranging to have a tpst case
instituted in tne High Court.
I look forward to hearing from you in due course.
Yours faithfully,
ERIC A. PLUNKETT
Secretary
mb/3/8.
THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF DEEDS
The Assistant Registrar of Deeds
Registry of Deeds,
Henrietta Street,
DUBLIN 1.
10/8/71
Dear Sir,
I enclose copy of a letter dated August 4th which
we have received from P. J. O'Driscoll & Sons, Bandon.
We published a statement about the use of parchment
for memorials in the February issue of the Society's
Gazette. In that statement you said that you would
later on suggest a form and size of memorials which
would suit your records system. I should be obliged if
you will let me have further information to clarify the
matter for our members.
Yours faithfully,
ERIC A. PLUNKETT,
Secretary
Mr. E. Plunkett
Incorporated Law Society of Ireland
Four Courts
DUBLIN
12th August, 1971
Dear Sir,
I refer to your letter of 10th inst. and to the. com-
munication from Messrs P. J. O'Driscoll & Sons,
Solicitors, Bandon, which accompanied it.