201 / 244
it difficult to explain to their clients why it is
necessary to have three barristers retained, and
paid fees, in a case when frequently only one is
in attendance in Court. This is a matter which I
feel merits the serious consideration o f the solicitors’
profession and the Bar. I am quite sure a solution
can be found which will be satisfactory both to
the Bar and solicitors, profession and more
satisfactory to litigants.
B
ar
A
ssociations
:
Finally, I would like to deal with a matter in
which I have taken a special interest during the
year, namely, the strengthening o f Bar Associations.
It is said that a chain is as strong as its weakest
link and I think it is true to say that the effectiveness
of the work of the Council of this Society is deter
mined to a great extent by the support and help
which it receives from local Bar Associations. Bar
Associations can be the backbone o f our profession.
I f these Associations are strong and active the pro
fession can resist pressure that may be brought on it
no matter from what quarter. Weak Associations
can leave us open to attacks. I would ask those of
you who may read this speech in the Annual Report
to read between the lines o f this statement. I am
glad to say that there has been a strengthening in the
position o f Bar Associations in the last twelve
months. Existing Associations have improved their
organisations, whilst in parts of the country where
Bar Associations have not existed up to this new
ones have been formed. Bar Associations can deal
with many matters promptly on the spot which if
otherwise referred to the Council of their Society may
somewhat lose effect by the passage o f time. Direct
local discipline is more effective than discipline by
remote control and enables you to stamp out locally
abuses which some members of the public attempt
to perpetrate on the profession. Again I would ask
you to strengthen your local Bar Associations in
every way possible and to continue to send to the
Council your suggestions for the improvement o f the
affairs o f the Society as a whole.”
The motion for the adoption o f the Report was
seconded by Mr. Niall S. Gaffney, Vice-President.
After Mr. T. D. McLoughlin, Desmond Moran and
Desmond R. Counahan had spoken to it the motion
for the adoption of the report was put to the meeting
and carried unanimously.
Mr. Henry St. J. Blake proposed and Mr. Patrick
R. Boyd seconded the adoption of the following
motion:—“ That the following members of the
Society be appointed as the Society’ s representatives
on the Nomination Committee for the Cultural and
Educational Panel pursuant to the Seanad Electoral
(Panel Members) Act, 1947, Section 22
Arthur
Cox, Francis J. Gearty, Patrick F. O’Reilly, James R.
Quirke, John J. Sheil. The motion was put to the
meeting and carried unanimously.
It was decided that an Ordinary General Meeting
o f the Society should be held on 27th November
1952.
Mr. Overend proposed a vote of thanks to Mr.
Roger Greene for his distinguished services to the
Society as President during the past year. The
motion was carried with acclamation. The President
replied and the meeting terminated.
MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL
N
ovember
8
th
.
The President in the Chair—-also
present, Messrs. Arthur Cox, Reginald J. Nolan,
Sean
0
hUadhaigh, Joseph P. Tyrrell, Daniel O’Con
nell, James R. Quirke, Thomas A. O’Reilly, George
A . Overend, John J. Sheil, Patrick F. O ’Reilly,
Patrick R. Boyd, James J. O’Connor, Ralph J.
Walker, Desmond R. Counahan, William J. Norman,
John Carrigan, Joseph Barrett.
The following was among the business trans
acted :—-
Admission o f Barrister-at-Law
O
n
a report from the Court o f Examiners the
Council decided that a Barrister-at-law who had
practised at the Irish Bar for two periods, together
aggregating five years, having spent the intervening
period-abroad in the British Legal Colonial service,
was of five years standing at the Bar for the purpose
of admission as a Solicitor under Section 29 of the
Solicitors’ (Ireland) Act 1898.
Police Reports
M
embers
wrote complaining of the practice in cer
tain districts whereby a fee of 5/- is required for a
copy o f a Police report. They stated that in many
cases the reports when received turned out to be of
little value and suggested that the Minister should be
asked to prescribe the charges on a folio basis. The
Council decided that it would be inexpedient to make
any representations on the matter.
Amalgamation o f Practices
O
n
a report from a Committee the Council decided
that where a firm of Solicitors acquired several other
firms, there was no objection to the inclusion in
small type on their business notepaper o f the names
o f the firms so acquired.
51