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many of the Bar Associations throughout the country
and been personal guests in the homes of many of
my colleagues. I and often my wife with me, have
wined, dined and danced as the guests of other
professional bodies and business associations. We
have been the honoured guests everywhere we have
gone and it has seemed to me that on every side our
Society is greatly respected.
In all my dealings as
President whether it be with Government Depart
ments, Offices of State, or of the Courts, everyone
I have met has been helpful and co-operative. I have
already in another place conveyed to my colleagues
on the Council what their patience, advice, and
kindness has meant to me—to my Vice Presidents,
Mr. George Overend and Mr. John Maher, who
have been at my side throughout the year helping
me in so many different ways, I am also grateful.
Lastly, I would say not only on my own behalf but
also on yours, how fortunate we are with our staff
in the Society. Mr. Plunkett who has been very
patient with my impatience must as usual carry
the heaviest weight and in giving him Mr. Barry
Cusack, a young man full of ability, talent and
enthusiasm, we have hoped to ease his load, Mr.
Gavin Duffy continues to maintain for us a most
up to date library and service here, Mr. Fitzpatrick
is as far as I can see, a master of all trades—at one
moment trying to explain to an unfortunate appren
tice why he did not pass his last examination, and
the next listening patiently to some old lady com
plaining that the President has not answered her
letters.
To Miss Dowdall, Miss Fanning, Miss
Shiells and Miss Donnelly, our very sincere thanks
for another year's \vork very well done. Lastly, no
president can ever forget William O'Reilly who
always sees that he never appears without this lovely
chain of office but is equally careful to see that he
never disappears with it. He has performed for me
many kindly acts during the past year.
To each and all of them my sincere personal
thanks for the courteous and loyal co-operation and
help that they have rendered to one who must have
often appeared to them a.s a very fussy and exacting
President.
To the many members of our society outside our
Council who have helped us by serving on com
mittees, acting as scrutineers or who have advised
us in one way or another, we extend a genuine
word of thanks.
With the ending of this Chapter in our history
I realise, as indeed you must all clearly see, that I
am not growing younger, and the time must soon
come, if indeed it is not already here, for me to
give my place on the Council to a younger and more
energetic man. This I am ready and willing to do
at any time in the certain knowledge that the friend
ships that I have formed while a member of our
Council will last as long as life itself.
It is with very great pleasure I now move the
adoption of our report and I will ask Mr. Overend
to formally second the proposal.
Mr. Overend seconded the adoption of the report.
Mr. T. D. McLoughlin then moved that the
meeting should go
into private session.
The
President thanked the press representative for their
attendance and they then withdrew.
Mr. McLoughlin (Dublin) speaking on the report
stated that he approved of the changes in the system
of legal education and training recommended in the
Society's memorandum
to
the commission on
Higher Education. He thought that two lecturers
in the law faculties of each university should be
selected from the solicitor profession and he cited
the examples of University College Galway and
University College Cork. He also stated that the
valuers appointed in connection with compulsory
acquisitions by the Land Values Reference Committee
should have legal qualifications and said that he
was in favour of a committee of junior solicitors
to advise the Council. The President replied and
dealt with a number of the points raised.
Mr. C. P. Forde (Dublin) said that he is not in
favour of a compulsory university degree before
admission to apprenticeship at least at present. He
stated that this might exclude from the profession
persons with insufficient means but would otherwise
be suitable.
Mr. Edmund Carroll (Fermoy) supported the
view that a university degree is desirable. He thought
that if a degree in non-legal subjects were taken by
an apprentice he should have at least one or two
years' law lectures at university level before starting
apprenticeship.
Mr. J. R. Quirke (Dublin) suggested that a list
of the current High Court fees should be printed
in the Society's calendar.
Mr. T. J. O'Keeffe (Roscommon) enquired as to
the statutory authority for the payment of
£14
stamp duty on each indentures of apprenticeship to
the Society of the King's Inns. The President replied
that he thought it originated in a pfe-Union Irish
statute.
Mrs. Cecilia Hurley-McGrath (Dublin) asked how
long practising solicitors would have to contribute
an annual sum
of £20
to the Compensation Fund.
The President replied to a number of points raised.
The motion for the adoption of the report was
carried unanimously.
THE PRESIDENT then opened a discussion on the advisability
of introducing the accountant's certificate provisions
in
section 31 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1960, item 7 on
the agenda and made a statement outlining the negotiations
with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice
60