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GAZ E T TE
DECEMBER 1980
Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, we give you
notice of the following special business to be dealt
with at the General Meeting of the Society to be
held on 21st November next. We refer to the
Memorandum attached hereto (commencing with
letter dated 23rd July, 1980 and addressed to each
member of the Society). We wish to know why the
Public Relations Committee of the Society and/or
its Editorial Board refused to a Member, the postal
facility of having said memorandum included with
copies of the Gazette mailed to members since 23rd
July 1980, especially as a comparable facility has
been extended to non-members before and after that
date'.
The President said he wanted everybody to feel that the
matter had been fairly dealt with. Mr. O'Mahony said the
matter at issue had been circulated fairly. He then
proceeded to read further detailed correspondence, copies
of which were passed out to the members present. The
President then called on Mr. Hussey to speak. Mr.
O'Mahony said that Mr. Hussey was not present and
asked to be excused. The President commented that it
was a pity that this had not been made clear earlier. Mr.
Prentice pointed out that while the premises were made
available to a Jazz Orchestra, it had also been made
available to a Symphony Orchestra. Similarily, if an anti
abortion group was allowed to use the premises, the
Society would also be under pressure to allow a pro-
abortion group similar facilities. This could bring the
Society into controversy. Mr. McEvoy said that the use
of the Gazette was not open to members, except for
matters coming within the Society's objectives. Mr.
O'Donnell, in his capacity as Chairman of the Public
Relations Committee, replying to the question, said that
the Committee took the view that the decision on the
circulation of the material should be "No", for the reason
set out in the letter to Mr. O'Mahony, which he had read
out to the meeting. In the Society, a General Meeting was
held twice a year, and this gave members, including Mr.
O'Mahony, an opportunity to speak. Insofar as
endeavouring to convene an extraordinary General
Meeting was concerned, it was the view of the Committee
and the Council of the Society that those seeking to call
such a meeting should do their own foot slogging for the
necessary number of signatures. If, and when, they got
the signatures to requisition a General Meeting, then the
Society would issue the notice. In the particular case, as a
gesture of good will, the Society had sent Mr. O'Mahony
labels for the circulation of his material. Nothing Mr.
O'Mahony had said at the meeting would encourage him
to change his mind on the decision which had been taken.
When Mr. O'Mahony proceeded to comment on the
points which had been made in discussion, Mr. Collins
said the question had been asked and answered, and it
was not fair that Mr. O'Mahony should detain members
further on the matter. When Mr. O'Mahony endeavoured
to comment further, the President moved on to next
business.
Annual General Meeting, 1981
On the proposition of Mr. Collins, seconded by Mr.
Beatty, it was agreed that this be held on Friday, 20th
November, 1981.
Other Business
At this stage, Mrs. Quinlan, Senior Vice-President,
took the chair and called on Mr. G. Doyle, to propose a
vote of thanks to the President. In doing so, Mr. Doyle
thanked the President and Mrs. Beatty for their work on
behalf of the Society during the year, a year, which in his
view, had seen much progress. Accordingly, Mr. Doyle
was pleased to propose a vote of thanks to the President.
The vote was seconded by Mr. McLoughlin. In conveying
the vote of thanks to the President, Mrs. Quinlan
expressed her own personal appreciation and remarked
that the President had given a shining example to his
successor in office.
The Senior Vice-President then declared the meeting
closed.
THE INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY OF IRELAND
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 1981
T h e Annual C o n f e r e n ce will take place
30th April-3rd May, 1981
at the
WATERVILLE LAKE HOT! I
Full Programme will be available shortly
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