The Gazette 1967/71

standing in the profession and throughout the country.

His achievements have been many and varied. In the

Solicitors Buildings alone in Dublin, increase in office

space, staff and equipment under his direction has moved

with the requirements and demands of the time. The

maintenance of an efficient office which is as often used

"by

members for the solution of problems of a legal nature

as for those of a professional nature is a reflection of the

reputation earned by Mr. Plunkett and

the reliance

placed by members on his judgment.

In the field of education and

learning he piloted

through the Council the revised system of examinations

1960. Fully aware of

the difficulties of keeping

abreast of the Jaw he helped to herald the 1960s by

arranging lectures and publications for practitioners.

It is hardly an exaggeration to say that Mr. Plunkett's

personality has been impressed upon the entire system of

law in this country in relation to solicitors. The Solici–

tors Act 1954 and 1960 and the various regulations

made thereunder are now the Bible by which the profes–

sion is governed. The patience, application and attention

to detail that was necessary

to have

these measures

implemented and made suitable for twentieth century

conditions can be attested to by the Presidents who

worked in conjunction with Mr. Plunkett during the

period when

these measures were being

formulated

into law. The members of the Council who have had an

opportunity of accompanying Mr. Plunkett to foreign

countries in connection with the Society's business have

been greatly impressed by his reputation abroad. While

those who led deputations to the Departments of State

and other bodies

to whom representations have been

made over the years have relied completely upon his

experience and expert advice.

This year he has the honour of being President of the

Association of Secretaries of European Bar Associations

which is a tribute to his standing amongst his peers in

Europe. The magnitude of the organisational work with

which he has been associated will be once again revealed

in July next year when the International Bar Association

holds its biennial conference in Dublin.

Each year at

the half-yearly meeting and at

the

ordinary general meeting of the Society the President

in his presidential address refers not as a matter of

course or of courtesy but of recognition to the sterling

work of Mr. Plunkett. In a position that calls for tact,

firmness, frankness, discretion and integrity he has shown

himself to be not only worthy of the esteem and reputa–

tion which he has earned but also deserves the best

thanks of all solicitors in Ireland for the diligence and

fairness with which he has at all times acted since his

appointment.

Eric Plunkett was a contemporary of mine in LJ.C.D.

many years ago and I am sure you will all join me in

congratulating him in his twenty-fifth year of office and

in wishing him many more years of fruitful work for the

Society.

Conclusion

I personally cannot allow this occasion to pass without

a special word of thanks to our assistant secretary, Mr.

Tom Smyth, who has been of considerable assistance to

me since taking office, and it is with regret that we have

learned of his intended resignation as assistant secretary,

but we shall have another occasion on which to express

our gratitude to him.

Finally

I wish

thank my

two Vice-Presidents,

Mr. Patrick Noonan and Mr. Augustus Cullen, for their

valuable assistance to me during the past half year.

Mr. Denis R. Peart gave a lecture on the work

of a town agent which was followed by a discus–

sion.

Mr. R. McD. Taylor moved a vote of thanks

to the President for his statement and for his

services to the Society during the past six months.

The motion was carried with acclamation. The

proceedings then terminated.

TOWN AGENCY AND PRACTICE

At the half-yearly meeting held in Cork in May

Mr. Denis R. Peart of Messrs John R. Peart and

Son, Solicitors, 27 Upper Ormond Quay, Dublin,

delivered a lecture on "Town Agency and Prac–

tice". It was proposed to have Mr. Peart's notes

available to members immediately after the meet–

ing but the Society have decided that the lecture

should take a more permanent form as one of the

Modern Law Series publications. The publication

will be on sale as soon as the author has made

certain revisions and the printing arrangements

have been carried through.

RECIPROCITY IN PRACTICE

In the May 1966 issue of the

Gazette

(Vol. 60,

No. 1, p. 5), under the above heading members

were informed as to the possibility of Irish solici–

tors practising abroad. Conditions of admission

as a legal practitioner in Western Australia have

since changed. It appears from a memorandum

received by the Society that the Barristers' Board

would have jurisdiction to admit an Irish solicitor

or barrister to practice in Western Australia if

they are of opinion that he falls within section

(2)

Thus a person admitted in a place where the

system of jurisdiction administered is equivalent

to or is substantially equivalent to the system of

jurisprudence administered in Western Australia

would be considered by the Board for admission.

It is to be noted that one qualifies for admission

as a barrister and solicitor (a "practitioner") and

there is no legal division between the two branches

of the profession, although it is often found that

a practitioner tends to practise in one field or the

other and a separate bar is now developing.