The Gazette 1984

GAZETTE

DECEMBER 1984

Wide-ranging Discussions at

Society's A.G.M.

ISCUSSIONS ranging

I' computerisation to the

need for greater s^ppor' for (he Solicitors'

Benevolent Society engaged the concern of members of

.he Incorporated Law Society of Ireland at the Society's

annual general meeting at Blackhail Place, Dublin on

Friday, November 16, 1984.

The President, Mr. Frank O'Dor ne!'., took the Chair

and after the formalities and the Mb.mes of the half-

yearly general meeting (published if. the

Gazette,

June,

1984) were agreed the Minutes were signed. A record of

the attendance at the A.G.M. is recorded in the

Attendance Book.

Accounts & Balance Sheet

The adoption of the audited accounts and balance sheet

for the year ended 31st December, 1983, was proposed by

Mrs. M. Quinlan and seconded by Mr. W. Beatty. In reply

to Mr. V. Crowley, Mr. T. Shaw (Chairman, Finance

Committee) explained that the increase in the deprecia-

tion figure in the Law School accounts was due to the

accelerated write-off of the capital expenditure on the

Society's computer.

In response to Mr. T.C.G. O'Mahony, Mr. Shaw

explained that the amount written-o.T in total on the

computer was £23,000 and in addition, a sum of £27,000

was spent on upgrading the computer. He added that

before upgrading the computer, the Society had sought

detailed advice as to what should be done. Again in

response to Mr. O'Mahony, Mr J Sweeney, Chairman,

Technology Committee, made t' j poim that the Societv

.equired that more of its work be computerised rather

lhan the amount of computerisation be reduced. Mr.

Shaw indicated that he would be quite prepared to give

further information on any matter relating to the

accounts on a written question.

The accounts were formally adopted.

The President thanked Messrs Coopers & Lybrand for

their assistance during the year and asked Mr. Dick Lane

to convey the Society's thanks to his partners. Coopers &

Lybrand were re-appointed Auditors on the proposition

of Mr. T.S. Shaw, seconded by Mr. J. Maher.

Ballot for Council 1984/85

The report of the Scrutineers on the election for

Council for 1984/85 was presented anckthe Scrutineers

v/ere thanked by the President f r the expeditious manner

in which they completed the election count. A^ the

President's request Mr. Tierney explained that votes had

been spoiled in the course of the election through

members not reading carefully the instructions on the

ballot paper.

Details of the ballot were published in the November

Gazette.

Council

's kcport 1983/84

Adoption i /the Council's Report for the year 1983/84

was proposed by Mr. Maurice Curran, seconded by Mr.

Frank Daly.

The President theft presented his Report and the

Reports of tbr Cominiitees f^r d i s c i ; o n . It was noted

thai the name

.. Gerard Doyle had

been

omitted

from the memoei shu- of the Disciplinary Committee.

President's Report

In response to a qu.

from Mr. T.C.G. O'Mahony, the

President exp.aiin.J t!;e developments which had taken

place regarding amendment of the Solicitors' Acts. He

made it clear that at this stage, he was not free to disclose

to members generally the progress which had been made

in discussions v im the Department of Justice. Mr.

O'Mahony come f e d that the profession as a whole

should be brought in. ,he Council's confidence and that

the matter should be dealt by way of a Special General

Meeting. Mr. Quentin Crivon said he felt that the Council

was adopting a high-handed approach. There should

have been advance consultation with members on a

matter as fundamental as the amendment of the

Solicitors' Acts. Mr. M. Curran explained that until the

Society had competed its discussions with the

Department of Justice, and agreement in principle was

reached, it would not be possible for the Council to take

the profession into its confidence.

Mr. John Schutte said the problem of secrecy in the

conduct of the Society's affairs was important. In his

experience, members f.'t a bit isolated from the^workings

of the Council and

op s

'.iat account, in the coming year, he

would like to see more openness.

Concluding the disi <.»s ,ion, the President pointed out

that in his meet-

\ith variola Bar Associations

throughout the ccu. uy, he had given them a broad

outline as to the approac h the Society would be adopting.

He intimated that the Council had decided to seek lay

participation in the operation of the Disciplinary

Committee. Also, the Council had adopted revised

Solicitors' Accounts Regulations on 3rd October, 1984.

Mr. Connolly explained that the effect of the revised

Regulations wa$ to put the onus on the solicitor to

reconcile clients' age ,unts twice a year.

On the question of establishing a panel of solicitors to

act in cases of negligence, the President commented that it

S^ was quite clear that in the public mind, there was a

riticism of the profession in this matter. In rural areas,

was a considerable reluctance on the part of a

^Nm

tlftfre

solicitor to sue a colleague. Hence, he thought it well to

formalise, insofar as possible, the

ad-hoc

arrangements

Which had existed. On the Restrictive Practice!

Commission, Mr. T.C.G. O'Mahony commented that

since the Report on the Conveyancing Monopoly was a

fundamental matter for the profession, he felt the Council

and the Committees c icerned should press the matter

harder than they appe.r ,d to have done with a view to an

early publication of li> . Report.

The meeting notet with concern that, as yet, no

progress had been ma», with the Irish Medical Organisa-

tion in the matter of ,'vir unilateral increase in fees for

reports and court aiten lances.

Compensation Fund

Mr. G. Dovl. su:d c would like to think the Fund

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