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best position to know how to train its own would-be members.
Training of apprentices will have to be flexible and easily
varied to meet ever-changing circumstances and statutory
restrictions make for rigidity.
If the common market becomes reality there will be an
even greater curriculum to be studied and the question of
languages for the lawyer may become one of paramount
importance. Some common language or languages will have
to be adopted so that lawyers in the community and even
further afield can communicate freely.
French is the paramount language of the Six and French and
English seem the most likely languages to be used in law in
the future. While it would be premature to bring French into
our syllabus now, it may be very important for the lawyer
of the future to be able to speak it, and anyone contemplating
a legal career would be well advised even at this stage, to
study French both at school and afterwards.
The world is getting much smaller and the areas with which
we are concerned and will be concerned, are ever expanding
and lawyers here and elsewhere shall have to face up to the
language problem in some shape or form.
PENSION SCHEME
Since the last annual meeting you will all have received
copies of the booklet containing the provisions of the Pension
Sickness and Accident Insurance Scheme which the council
has negotiated for members through Irish Pensions Trust Ltd.
I feel that this is a scheme which is particularly designed to
meet the needs of solicitors and one that should commend
itself to every member. I know that Irish Pensions Trust Ltd.
have spent a lot of time and energy in helping us to evolve
this scheme for which they have claimed no remuneration
and every member of the society should be very grateful to
them for their help.
It is not for me to try and persuade
any of you to take out a policy under this scheme unless you
want to do so. There are considerable advantages in the
scheme, however, particularly to the man practising on his
own with fluctuating profits or to a man practising with his
son who wants to make provision enabling his son gradually
to take over an ever-increasing share.
I would ask you all to study the booklet carefully and if
you have any queries arising thereon to get in touch with
Irish Pensions Trust who will, free of charge, and without
commitment, advise you further. If, having studied it, it has
no interest for you then I am content.
I am glad to be able to tell you that the response to the
scheme to date has been most encouraging.
May I close on a more personal note. It is indeed an honour
and a privilege to have been elected your president and I am
fully conscious of this. I will do my utmost to maintain the
high standard set by my predecessors and to justify the trust
placed in me by your council.
It is a burden I could not contemplate singlehanded. I am
fortunate in having Mr. Lanigan and Mr. Taylor as my vice-
presidents and I am indeed grateful to them for the ready help
they have given me at all times.
The council which you elected last November must be one
of the most hardworking councils ever. The programme of
law reform has placed on them an unusually heavy burden
but one and ail are ready and willing at all times to do their
share and more than their share. I cannot tell you how much
I value their unstinted efforts and their support. I am deeply
indebted to them one and all.
Mr. Plunkett remains, as always, the right arm of every
president and I thank him most sincerely or all his help to
me, and through him, all and every member of the staff who
have played their full part in the efficient running ofthe Society.
Messrs. J. R. Quirke, Desmond Moran and T. D.
McLoughlin addressed
the meeting on matters
arising on the president's statement. The proceedings
then closed.
MEDICAL FEES FOR EXAMINATIONS
AND REPORTS
An enquiry has been received from a member as
to the position generally with regard to the amounts
of fees properly payable to doctors for medical
examinations and subsequent reports. The member
who made the enquiry had been informed by a
surgeon that the minimum fee for his report would
be five guineas.
It is understood that the practice on taxation of
costs is to allow a fee of three guineas for a report
from the client's doctor on a party and party taxation.
If, however, a specialist who has not been treating
the client makes an examination and report he is
allowed five guineas for his first report and three
guineas for each subsequent report. As between
solicitor and client the Taxing Masters allow the same
charges except that where the matter is difficult or un
usual theywould allow such fees as have actually been
paid by the client's solicitor, provided of course that
they were not unusually high. An unusually high
fee would require the approval of the client.
It is
also understood that only a reasonable number of
reports may be allowed on a party and party taxation,
generally not more than four.
The fee for a doctor for attending at court for the
purpose of giving evidence is now increased to
eight guineas but apart from that the general
position with regard
to medical
fees
remains
unchanged.
MOTOR INSURERS' BUREAU OF
IRELAND
An addendum to the original agreement dated
the poth November, 1955, has been signed by the
Minister for Local Government and the Motor
Insurers' Bureau of Ireland.
The addendum is
dated the izth March, 1962, and provides that
references in the original agreement to the Road
Traffic Act, 1933, are to be construed as references
to the Road Traffic Act, 1961.
There is a proviso,
however, that the Bureau will only accept liability
which would be required to be covered by an
approved policy under the 1933 Act. The range of
compulsory insurance was extended by the 1961
Act with effect from May ist but this is not covered
by the addendum. The text of the addendum and
notes
thereon
is
available
from Government