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GAZETTE
January-February 1976
entitled to a clear indication of the position. The
President stated t h at this ma t t er had been fully dis-
cussed at the We s t p o rt meeting. It was essential to
find a c commoda t i on for the n ume r o us apprentices,
and it was impossible to hazard guesses as regards the
cost. Mr. James O ' Donovan, who as President had
given this undertaking, stated t h at at the time it was
t hought that, if we were going to keep the King's
Hospital, it would not be necessary to impose any
expenses on our memb e rs t owa r ds reconstruction or
maintenance. As a result of the n ume r o us apprentices,
it be c ame essential to ma ke full provision for them,
and the Council was compelled to change its mind.
Mr. Peter Prentice reminded the memb e rs that he had
stated in 1974 t h at the King's Hospital would cost the
Society plenty of money, b ut the new set of circum-
stances made such expenditure inevitable. The Report
was adopted.
The Re po rt of the
Court Offices and Costs Com-
mittee
was proposed by the President and adopted
unanimously.
The adoption of the Re po rt of the
Court of
Examiners
was proposed by Mr. John Buckley, who
praised in particular the work und e r t a k en by the
Education Sub-Committee. Mr. John Carrigan con-
gratulated Mr. Buckley upon the achievements of the
Cou rt of Examiners in the past year. The Re po rt was
adopted.
The adoption of the Re po rt of the
Public Relations
Committee
was proposed by Mr. Walter Beatty, who
t h a n k ed
the Public Relations Officer, Maxwell
Sweeney, for his services. Mr. Brendan O'Maoileoin,
in referring to the new tax legislation, stated that it
would be necessary to cater for an informed public.
Wh en he referred to the unconstitutionality of the
Criminal Law Jurisdiction Bill, Mr. Carrigan proposed
t h at this Bill be referred back for f u r t h er considera-
tion. The Re p o rt was adopted.
Th e adoption of the Re po rt of the
Blackball Place
Committee
was moved by Mrs. Quinlan, and adopted
unanimously.
The adoption of the Re po rt of the
Disciplinary
Committee
was moved by the President and adopted
unanimously.
The Re po rt of the
E.E.C. Committee
was moved by
Mr. An t h o ny Collins. To an inquiry by Mr. O
hUa dh a i gh wh e t h er the Society could provide a post-
g r a du a te course in Commu n i ty Law for the older
members, Mr. Collins stated t h at this would be diffi-
cult to arrange, b ut he referred to the special courses
available in Edinburgh, Ams t e r d am and Luxembourg.
Mr. T. C. G. O 'Ma h o ny stated that it was difficult to
assimilate Commu n i ty legislation, and t h at it would
be impossible to read all the Commu n i ty literature
issued. Mr. Collins stated the Commi t t ee was trying
to gauge the amo u nt of this legislation which would
affect Ireland, b ut it was a difficult problem. Mr.
O ' Ma h o ny said that, although we had entered the
Commu n i ty with our eyes open, it would be difficult
to test the constitutionality of Commu n i ty legislation.
The Re po rt was adopted.
Th e Re po rt of the
Company Law Committee
was
moved by the President, who explained t h at this was
an i nd e p e nd e nt Commi t t ee dealing with mergers and
monopolies, and t h at it had been complimented by
the Minister for I ndu s t ry and Comme r c e. The Report
was adopted.
Th e President moved the adoption of the
Library
Re po rt which was passed.
Mr. John Moloney moved the adoption of the
Costs
Committee
Report. The President, in reply to ques-
tions, stated t h at the application for the 150% increase
in costs had been submitted to the Prices Commis-
sion. Professor Lees would c omme nt on this applica-
tion and report to the Prices Commission. Mr.
O'Maoileoin c omme n t ed that, in view of current
inflation, there should be a 700% increase and not
merely one of 150%. The President replied that
un f o r t un a t e ly Professor Lees was not prepared to
r e commend any f u r t h er increase, but that he strongly
advised any memb er who wished to put forward his
views in requiring substantial increases to do so as
soon as possible. Mr. O 'Ma hony, having mentioned
that a ma n a g eme nt c on s u l t a nt was paid £160.00 per
day, asked wh e t h er the Society could have regard to
the work solicitors were performing. The President in
reply stated t h at he had received a full memo r a n d um
on the subject from the Dublin Solicitors' Bar Associ-
ation and other Bar Associations. Meetings had also
been arranged t h r oughout the c oun t ry with Professor
Lees who had definitely been impressed with the
position, and it would be for him to report direct to
the Prices Commission. It was then likely that the
Prices Commission would publish an Occasional
Paper on the subject. The Costs Commi t t ee would be
prepared to meet all experts. A questionnaire had
been sent to all firms, b ut un f o r t un a t e ly only 10%
replied. The first
interim
Report of Professor Lees
is likely to be published in January, 1976. Interim
increases will be sought if there is likely to be any
delay. The Report was adopted.
The President proposed the adoption of the
Law
Clerks Joint Labour Committee
Report and com-
me nd ed the work of Mr. Gerard Doyle and Mr. Ray
Mon a h a n. The Re po rt was adopted.
Mr. Walter Beatty then proposed the following
resolution:
" Th at the Gov e r nme nt be requested to give
priority to the introduction of the necessary
legislation to remove the liability for the pay-
me nt by borrowers of the lending institutions
legal fees in respect of loans for residential house
purchase."
The Council had already sent a similar resolution
to the De p a r tme nt of Justice. Mr. F r a nk Lanigan
seconded it. Mr. O'Maoileoin, in opposing the resolu-
tion, said t h at lending institutions did not make vast
profits. Messrs. Russell and McCarron also opposed
the resolution. Mr. Maurice Curran, in supporting
the resolution said that, apart f r om building societies,
lending institutions included b a nks and insurance
companies. Mr. Rob e rt Taylor also supported it. It
was essential for the Society not to get a bad reputa-
tion f r om the public. Mr. Crivon thought that the
public should not be asked to pay the costs of
borrowing.
Mr. P. C. Moo re said that although the resolution
was discriminatory against building societies, he sup-
ported it on the basis t h at the proposal should change
completely the conditions und er which borrowers
were to pay lenders' costs; the law of mortgages
required to be altered completely. As a result of this
discussion, Mr. M. Curran proposed and Mr. W.
Beatty seconded the proposal that this resolution be
placed on the Agenda of the Ordinary General Meet-
ing in May, and that it be meanwhile considered by
the Council. The proposal was agreed to.
Mr. O'Maoileoin proposed and Mr. O 'Ma h o ny
seconded the proposal t h at Mr. Gavan Duffy be con-
gratulated by the memb e rs of the Society upon having
completed 25 years as Librarian of the Society, and
that he be t h a nk ed for the services which he had pro-
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