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queline Ryan, Denis Shaw, Francis E. Sownian
(B.A. (Mod.), LL.B.), Anthony J. Taaffe.
68 Candidates attended ; 54 Candidates passed.
At the
Book-keeping Examination
for appren
tices to Solicitors held on the 16;h March, 1970,
the following candidates passed :
Adrian P. Bourke (B.A., (Mod.), LL.B.), Daniel
C. Chambers, Maxwell A. McD. Conry (B.C.L.,
LL.B.), Patrick J. Cusack, David Maxwell Fitz
gerald
(B.A.), Michael E. Hanahoe, John L.
Jermyn, Charles A. Kelly, Colm P. Mannin,
Michael D. Murray, Patrick C.
J. Neligan
(B.C.L.), Ann Margaret Nugent (B..C.L.), Ronan
O'Siochain (B.C.L.), Mary T. J. Ryan, Denis F.
Shaw, Paul B. Smithwick.
20 Candidates attended :
16 passed.
At the
Third Law Examination
for apprentices
to Solicitors held from the 16th to the 21st Febru
ary, 1970, the following candidates passed :
Passed With Merit
Michael Larkin (B.C.L., LL.B.).
Passed
Patricia J. Burke (B.C.L.), Patrick F. Burke,
Francis O. Callanan (B.C.L.), Martin N. Clarke
(B.C.L.), Arthur R. Comyn, Murrough Connellan,
Maxwell A. McD. Conry
(B.C.L.,
LL.B.),
Christine McAuliffe Curtin (B.C.L.), Francis R.
Doris (B.C.L.), Oonagh M. Dowling (B.C.L.),
Raymond A. Frost
(B.C.L.,
LL.B.), John D. B.
Cannon (B.C.L.), Michael E. Hanahoe, Caren M.
V. Healy (B.C.L.), John L. Jermyn, Jane F. Kelly
(B.A.), Elizabeth M. Lacy (B.C.L.), William T.
Listen
(B.Comm.), Mary E. Minch
(B.C.L.,
LL.B.), Desmond Carroll Moran (B.C.L.), Eugene
Murphy, Edward B. Neilan, Ann M. Nugent
(B.C.L.), Francis G. McArdle, Derek A. McVeigh,
Mary V. O'Connell, Timothy O'Driscoll (B.C.L.,
LL.B.), Edward J. O'Neill, Ronan O'Siochain
(B.C.L.), Mary R. A, Quinn, Louise Ryan
(B.C.L.),
John M.
Sexton
(B.C.L.), Henry
Tighe, Robert P. C.. Williams (B.A.).
39 Candidates attended ; 35 passed.
On the combined results of the Second and
Third Law
examinations
the Council
have
142
awarded a Special Certificate to
Michael Larkin (B.C.L., LL.B.).
" ACT AND BE DAMNED " ATTITUDE
IN PARLIAMENT
THERE was a " terrible attitude " among Parlia
mentarians at present of " act and be damned,"
said Sir Desmond Heap, the Comptroller and City
Solicitor to London Corporation.
Those who had to use and understand the Acts
of Parliament they passed were not taken into
account. The result was that lawyers and others
were sinking " more and more into the mud "
unravelling the complications and confusions.
Sir Desmond was introducing at a Press Con
ference in London the first report of the Statute
Law Society, which was set up nearly two years
ago to make Britain's statute law more intelligible
and accessible.
A committee headed by Sir Desmond found
widespread dissatisfaction among users of the
statute law. whether in the professions or local
government about how new laws are made and
presented.
' Status symbol'
With their bulk and complexity professional
people were finding it increasingly difficult to cope
with the task of advising clients where they stood
in relation to the law.
Governments appeared to regard the volume of
legislation they could pass as a " status symbol."
It seemed the current vogue for Ministers was to
vie with one another in attempts to push as many
and as bulky statutes through Parliament as
possible.
As a result Bills were rushed through Parlia
ment without time for adequate consideration or
consultation between the Bill being pushed and
its enactment.
The report criticises the Government for its
secrecy in preparing Bills and its frequent failure
to consult outside practitioners and specialist
groups about the practical effects of the legislation.
Parliamentary draughtmen worked under great
pressure but they were unable to challenge a
Government Department on fundamental points
in their instructions, which were often insufficiently
precise.
There was inadequate consultation with the
Department during the drafting process.