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fession of chartered accountants as experts. The Council
further accept that this committee itself should be sub-
ject to control by the highest authority in the land,
namely the Oireachtas. They are opposed to control by
the executive on the ground that the decisions of such
a committee should be debated and canvassed openly
and in such a manner as will safeguard the independence
of the profession. The solicitors' profession is intimately
concerned with the administration of justice as between
citizens and as between the State and the citizen. Con-
trol of its remuneration ultimately means control over its
existence and activities. The Council have expressed
these views as clearly as possible to the Minister in
pursuance of the mandate which they have received
from the profession. Control by the Oireachtas is the
only matter at issue between us and we are hopeful
from the meetings which have taken place that the
force and justice of our case will be recognised.
The Society's Services
The Public Relations and Services Committee among
its other activities deals with the establishment and
promotion of services for members. The company for-
mation service has been in existence since 1968 and
approximately 1,200 companies have been formed to
date on behalf of members of the Society. The service
provides precedents which can be adapted and amended,
the solicitor having carriage to suit the client's require-
ments. The memorandum and articles of association
are printed in accordance with member's instructions
and all communications and correspondence with the
company's office is carried out by the service. Company
seals and minute books can be provided and all mech-
anical operations carried out leaving the solicitor free
to concentrate on the purely legal work. The extent to
which the service has been used indicates its value to
the profession.
The Society has also established an amalgamation
and partnership service for which forms were sent out
with the March issue of the Society's
Gazette.
Members
wishing to avail of the service should complete the form
with certain particulars which is placed on a confidential
file. Names are not disclosed without permission. This
service is as yet in its infancy. The Council hopes that
as it grows to maturity it will be of increasing benefit to
members of the Society.
Precedent Bank and Engrossment Service
In the near future the Society will launch a prece-
dent bank and engrossment service with the Magnetic
Tape 72 Typewriter. This is a machine which can store
typewritten material on tape and reproduce it at speeds
of 100 to 180 words per minute. Amendments by dele-
tion or addition or alteration can be made on the tape
without interfering with the general text and a com-
plete document ready for execution can be obtained at
a moderate charge having regard to the saving of time
effected. It is particularly valuable for long documents
which in the ordinary course would require complete
retyping after approval of the draft. It is proposed to
store on these tapes deed of discretionary trust, com-
plete power of attorney and partnership deed for pro-
fessional or general commercial requirements and addi-
tional precedents will be stored in the light of experi-
ence. Members can also buy their own tapes for their
particular requirements for use on the Society's office
machine.
Publications
In the field of publications the Society has commis-
sioned a work on
Irish Land Law
by Mr. J. A. Wylie of
Queen's University, Belfast, and a textbook on
The Law
of Evidence in Ireland
by Dr. Cole of Trinity College,
Dublin. Negotiations are in progress for the production
of a book on
Planning Law.
In this connection I wish
to acknowledge the financial assistance which has been
given by the Arthur Cox Foundation and its chairman
the Hon. Mr. Justice Kenny who have generously agreed
to subsidise the textbook on land law.
The European Economic Community
Looking forward to the possible accession of Ireland
to the E.E.C. the Council have requested the Depart-
ments of Justice and Foreign Affairs to receive represen-
tatives. Contact has been made with the English Law
Society and .valuable information has been exchanged.
Among the main topics of interest to the profession here
are the proposed removal of restrictions on the right of
establishment and the right to supply professional ser-
vices, the harmonisation of the laws of the member
states of the community, recognition of professional
diplomas and matters such as the reciprocal enforce-
ment of judgements. The right of professional men to
cross frontiers for the provision of legal services natur-
ally raises problems which are more apparent between
the Civil Law and the Common Law countries than
between the European states which operate under basi-
cally similar legal systems. The question of the right of
audience of solicitors in foreign courts and the right of
U.K. and European lawyers in the Republic is also
engaging attention. The Council has asked that the
legal profession be represented on the committee
appointed by the Taoiseach to study the legal problems
which will arise from accession to the community.
Solicitors' Remuneration
An application for an increase in the Schedule 2 char-
ges (apart from commission scale fees) under the Solici-
tors' Remuneration General Orders was made to the
statutory body last year. Consideration was postponed
pending the introduction of decimalisation. This appli-
cation has been renewed and applications have been
made to the rules committees of the various Courts and
the Land Registration Rules Committee for increases
to correspond with the rise in the cost of living figure
since 1964. It is premature to anticipate the outcome
of these applications but we think we have a good case
and members may rest assured that it will be presented
with the utmost speed.
Insurance Commission
Arising out of difficulties experienced by the insurance
industry and the rapid increase in premiums the
Minister for Industry and Commerce appointed a com-
mittee to study the problem and report to him. At the
request of the committee the Council submitted a
memorandum and representatives of the Society have
attended before the committee to amplify the report by
further oral information. The problems are difficult and
admit of no easy solution but the Council will be glad
to afford any assistance which can be obtained from
the practical experience of members of the profession.
Professional Negligence
The Society's professional liability insurance scheme
which was launched last year has obtained very satis-
factory support from members of the Society. The num-
ber of offices in the scheme now exceeds 300 and rates
compare very favourably with those obtained elsewhere.
There is a single renewal date—April 30th—and the
renewal notices have already been received by most if
not all offices. I am informed that the volume of work
has been heavy and some offices were naturally anxious
about renewals but I am assured that there is no cause
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