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adopted by the Council and it was ordered that

a draft memorandum to the Committees should

be prepared in support of the application.

Solicitors' Bill

THE Council considered a report from a deputation

consisting of the President, Mr. John S. O'Connor

and the Secretary, who attended at Government

Buildings at the request of the Minister for Justice

on the subject of the Solicitors' Bill, on lyth

October. The report stated that the Minister had

informed

the deputation

that he had brought

before the Government the submissions of the

Council against the amendment of the Bill pro–

viding for an Indemnity Fund and had persuaded

the Government with some difficulty to agree to

introduce the Bill as a Government measure without

these provisions.

The Bill would now be sent

to the Parliamentary Draftsman.

The Minister

had stated that the Government had requested

him to suggest that the Society, as a voluntary

measure, should set up a fund to provide com–

pensation for losses suffered by clients in cases

of hardship due to solicitors' defalcations.

The

administration of such a fund as

the Minister

suggested would be in the hands of the Council

and any payments made thereout would be dis–

cretionary.

The suggested fund would not be

created under any Statutory powers but by rules

to be made by the Society. He made it clear that

the Council's agreement to the suggestion was

not a condition precedent to

the

introduction

of the Bill by the Government.

The Minister

had further stated that it is quite possible that the

question of an indemnity fund will be raised by

members of the Dail when the Bill is under dis–

cussion and that strong pressure may be exercised

on the Government to amend the Bill to provide

for such a fund. If the Council accepts the Govern–

ment's suggestion as to the creation of the voluntary

fund the task of the Government in face of such

opposition would be easier.

If the Council do not

adopt

the suggestion of the Government

they

will still introduce the Bill, but the position may

have to be reconsidered in the event of strong

pressure by members of the Dail or Senate for the

setting up of a fund. During the discussion the

Minister was asked whether the Government had

in mind a contribution from

the State funds

towards the suggested scheme.

He replied that

the Government had not considered this matter

but did not reject the suggestion.

Having considered the report of the deputation,

it was

resolved

that the Minister be

informed

that

the Council have no authority to agree to

the suggestion as to the setting up of a voluntary

fund or to alter

the views already expressed on

a number of occasions on the subject and tha

it is noted with satisfaction that the Government

will introduce the Bill as a Government measure.

NOVEMBER. i4th. The President in the chair. Also

present: Mr. Roger Greene, Vice-President ;

Messrs. A. Cox, P. F. O'Reilly, J. Barrett, J. P.

Tyrrell, J. R. Quirke, W. S. Hayes, C. G. Stapleton,

P. O'Connor, P. R. Boyd, S. 6 hUadhaigh, H.

St. J. Blake, W. J. Norman.

The following was among the business transacted :

Solicitors' Remuneration

DRAFT memorandum to the Committees in support

of application for increase in Solicitors' remuneration

considered.

Application under Section 16

REPORT

from

the Court of Examiners on an

application by a law clerk for liberty to be bound

for three years only under Section 16.

Ordered

the application be granted.

Applications under Section 18

Two applications for exemption from the Pre–

liminary Examination were considered, and on

the report from the Court of Examiners it was

ordered that no opposition be offered before the

Chief Justice.

Auctioneers' Bill, 1946

REPORT of the Secretary on the Auctioneers' Bill,

1946, considered and adopted.

SOLICITORS' APPRENTICES'

DEBATING SOCIETY

THE Inaugural Meeting of the Solicitors' Appren–

tices' Debating Society of Ireland was held on

October 25th, when the Auditor, Mr. George J.

Colley, delivered an address on " What of to–

morrow ? " The Chair was taken by Mr. Daniel

O'Connell, President of the

Incorporated Law

Society of Ireland. The speakers were : Mr. Patrick

J. Little, T.D.; Mr. John A. Costello, S.C., T.D.;

Mr. Micheal O Cleirigh, County Registrar; Mr.

John P. McNally, B.A., N.U.I.

The following

medals were presented by Mr. O'Connell:

Oratory, Incorporated Law Society's Gold Medal:

James M. Farrelly; Society's Silver Medal: Des–

mond J. Dowdall; Special Certificate :

Donal B.

O'Sullivan ; Legal Debate, President's Gold Medal:

James M. Farrelly ; Society's Silver Medal: George

J. Colley;

Impromptu Speeches, Vice-Presidents'

Gold Medal: John P. McNally ; Vice-Presidents'

Silver Medal: Desmond J. Dowdall; Irish Debate,

Society's Gold Medal: Donal B. O'Sullivan;