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GAZETTE
SEP
T
EM
BER 1976
L I BRARY
Colum Gavart Duffy
Librarian
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Colum Gavan Duffy,
Librarian and
Editor of the Gazette
16.1 The services provided by the Library have been expanded. Efforts have been made to increase
the number of copies of students' textbooks to cope with their increasing number. The process of photo-
copying has greatly reduced the number of books lent, as most Courts now accept photocopies without
question. Intricate queries continue to be received, mainly from abroad, dealing with the tracing of
ancestors who were solicitors.
16.2
Progress is being made in gradually re-issuing the unreported judgments of the High and Supreme
Courts by subject, instead of in chronological order, as heretofore. The object is to facilitate inquiries
about judgments on a particular subject. Some of the judgments of Circuit Judge McWilliam, before he
ascended the High Court bench, have become available, and it is hoped that this will induce other
Circuit Judges to part with their written judgments. Mr. Wylie's book on Irish Land Law, and Mr.
Johnston's book on the Wealth Tax, published during the year, have been welcomed by all.
16.3 Since June, 1976, a short list of written judgments, issued monthly, containing a summary of all
1976 written judgments of the High Court and Supreme Court, has been issued as a pink page supplement
to the
Gazette
; this has proved a great boon to practitioners as has also the fact that unreported judgments
are now printed on green paper, and thus easily traceable.
16.4 New editions of standard legal textbooks, as well as of new textbooks and issues of periodicals
have been acquired. These were listed in the August, 1976,
Gazette'.
There is unfortunately little space for
the planned expansion of the Reference Section at the moment, but it is hoped to make this a priority,
when the Library is transferred to Blackhall Place during the Summer Vacation of 1977. Appreciation
and thanks are expressed to Mr. Desmond Clarke, former Librarian of the Royal Dublin Society, who
has given invaluable assistance in the planning and design of the new library, and to the members of the
Blackhall Place Commiteee for discussing these plans.
16.5 The total amount spent on the purchase of books for the year ending 30th April, 1976, was £3,310
and on the purchase of periodicals was £418, making a total of £3,728. The total amount spend on binding
was £583. The corresponding amounts last year in respect of books were £1,567, periodicals, £307, and
binding, £310. In view of inflation, there is an inevitable tendency for these prices to rise, but it is essential
for the Library to provide essential books for the needs of members.
16.6 The legal publications of the European Communities, consisting of the daily Legislation and
Information Sections of the Journal, the Bulletin, the Annual Report of the Council, and the judgments
of the Court, have been received. Arrangements were made, upon my visit to Strasbourg, to receive the
legal publications ot fhe Council of Europe.
16.7 The Librarian attended the Annual Conference of the British and Irish Association of Law
Librarians in Oxford in September. He also took part, with 25 other Irish Librarians of the Special
Libraries Section of the Irish Library Association, in a visit to the institutions of the European Economic
Community—the Commission and the Council of Ministers in Brussels, and the European Parliament,
the European Court of Justice and the Official Office of Publications in Luxembourg. As an academic
lawyer, I was awarded a Bursary by the Council of Europe to attend the Fourth Conference of
Professors of Law on the teaching of Comparative Law in Strasbourg in October, and out of 140
participants, was the only Irish representative. Appreciation is expressed to the Council and to the
Director General for their assistance.
COSTS
COMM I T T EE
Gerald J. Moloney,
Chairman
Denis J. Bergin
Thomas Callan
Laurence Cullen
John J. Dockrell
Dominic R e ams
William D. McEvoy
Robert Pierce
John Rochford
Raymond M. Walker
17.1 Since the last Report a year ago the Cost Committee met on a number of occasions to complete
the preparation of the Society's Submission to the Consultant appointed by the National Prices
Commission. With considerable measure of help from the Society's Accountants, Messrs. Cooper &
Lybrands, a final draft of the Submission was achieved which the Committee thought was the best they
could reasonably hope to produce having regard both to the limited time at their disposal and the
practical difficulties of acquiring any further statistical information or drawing further conclusions from
that information within the time available.
17.2 The Submission was completed and presented to Professor Lees in February. Subsequently the
Committee answered some queries which he raised on it particularly in relation to the basis for the
minimum charge of £50.00 in Conveyancing matters referred to in paragraphs 16. (i) (b) (ii) and (iv) and
the proposed abolition of the Land Registry half scale fee.
17.3 The Committee understand that since receipt of the Submission Professor Lees has submitted an
interim Report to the National Prices Commission and that his final Report should be in the hands of the
Commission by the time this Report is published.
17.4 Despite Submissions by the Society the Commission has declined to deal with any proposed
increase before Professor Lees' final Report is available.
17.5 The Council caused copies of the Submission to be circulated confidentially to members of the
profession in August and the Committee, who have suggested to the Council that a permanent Costs
Committee might be formed, think that it would be helpful to them or their Successors if any member
wished to make any constructive criticism or suggestion arising either out of matters covered in the
Submission or any other matter in relation to costs.
Gerald J. Moloney,
Chairman
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