The Gazette 1980

GAZETTE

APRIL 1980

The Council reports

SUMMARIES FROM TWO MEETINGS -

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1980

Problems created for conveyancers by the Family

Home Protection Act have been of considerable concern

to the Conveyancing Committee. In December, 1979,

representatives of the Society discussed the matter with

the Department of Justice: little progress was made. The

view of the Department was that the general principle of

the Act was draconian and that it would remain that way.

The Council approved the backing of the Family

Home Protection Act case which had been taken with a

view to establishing the conclusiveness of the Folio and,

in addition, authority was given to appeal the decision to

the Supreme Court to establish a degree of finality in the

matter. (See note regarding High Court decision).

Education Programme

Mr. John F. Buckley (Education Committee) reported

on difficulties being experienced in obtaining masters for

a number of prospective apprentices who had obtained

places in the Law School. Council members were asked to

use their efforts to overcome the problem. Mr. Peter

Murphy commented that while there was a willingness to

help on the part of many firms, accommodation was a

difficult problem in the country.

Computer

The Society's computer has been installed and Mr.

Maurice Curran (Finance Committee) reported that the

cost was about £30,000. Data for the issue of this year's

Practising Certificates is being fed to the computer.

International

The Council adopted a recommendation from Mr.

Raymond Monahan, on behalf of the EEC & Inter-

national Affairs Committee, that the invitation of the

Council of Europe to mount a full-day Seminar on May

1st, 1980, should be accepted.

Building Societies

The Council read the report of a meeting with the Irish

Building Societies' Association in November, 1979, and

approved the establishment of the Joint Committee

representative of the Society and the Association. The

Committee will decide and lay down reasonable standards

°n matters of practice and, if necessary, will arbitrate on

differences which may arise between practitioners on such

matters.

The following matters were among those before the

Tebruary meeting of the Council:

The Council approved, on the recommendation of the

Professional Purposes Committee, a standard form of

affidavit for use in Family Law cases. The precedent will

e circulated with the

Gazette.

Committee Appointments

Messrs Liam Young and Dudley Potter were appointed

to the Education Advisory Committee. Mr. Michael W.

Tyrell was appointed to the Incorporated Council of Law

Reporting to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of

Mr. Peter Prentice. Tributes were paid to Mr. Prentice for

the service given to the Society as a member of the

Council of Law Reporting. Mr. Seamus L. O'Kdly was

appointed Executive Editor of the

Gazette.

Law Clerks

The Society's representatives on the Law Clerks' Joint

Labour Committee gave notice of a meeting on the day

following the Council meeting. At that meeting it was

agreed to pay the 1st phase of the National Understand-

ing, 1979 (9%), as from the earliest possible date and the

second phase (7%+£2.40) as from July 1st.

The Society's representatives asked that the creation of

a grade of Receptionist should be considered at a future

meeting.

Public Relations

Members will already have seen press reports of a very

successful symposium on "The Law and the Media" held

in Blackhall Place in February. The principal guest

speaker, Mr. Jacob Ecclestone, President, National

Union of Journalists, took away with him a favourable

view of the Society's outgoing approach in the public

relations area. The Committee will organise further

symposia later in the year.

Government Departments

Arising from strong representations by the Society, the

Minister for Finance (Michael O'Kennedy) indicated that

the arrears situation in the Valuation Office had been

reduced from 3,000 cases to 1,600 and that he was

pressing the Minister for the Public Service to appoint

additional valuers at an early date.

Mr. P. L. O'Reagain, Secretary, Department of Posts

& Telegraphs, has assured the Society that every possible

effort is being made to bring postal deliveries back to

normal.

The enquiry into the conveyancing monopoly is not

likely to commence before June 1980, according to Mr.

Niall MacLiam, Chairman, Restrictive Practices

Commission.

Liaison with the Bar

The Council considered a report of a meeting with the

General Council of the Bar of Ireland and the Federation

of Insurers held in Blackhall Place on December 1979. It

was agreed that, in advance of the next meeting on

February 28th, the President should write to the Bar

Council expressing the Council's reservations on the

"Two Senior" system and on the engagement of Junior

Counsel to the trial stage.

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