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GAZETTE
DECEMBER 1988
McDonagh explores this idea of
go i ng " b e y o nd r i g h t s ", " t h e
attempt to translate all morality into
the language of rights could
c o n s t i t u te an e n o r mo us im-
poverishment of morality in the
Christian and in the wider human
condition. Where would that leave
friendship, hope, love and forgive-
ness values which are incorporated
into the spirit of mediation". These
are very worthy sentiments but the
sense of fairness, justice and rights
is ve ry deep ly emb e d d ed in
humanity. Even small children have
a strong view of what is " n o t fair".
Separating couples both in media-
tion and in ordinary settlements
voluntarily accept a diminution of
their rights but they must do so
knowingly.
Experience of the working of the
mediation service shows up both
advantages and problems but f ew
family lawyers would not accept
that mediation in its best sense
p r ov i des a va l uab le se r v i ce.
Mediation has been successful for
a large number of the couples who
have operated the system.
Cos ts
As in the case of the legal system
the awkwa rd question of costs
must arise. The Department of
Justice Family Mediation Service is
free to clients but private services
must charge fees and I have seen
fees charged by private mediators
at times which are at least as high
if not higher than any fees charged
by solicitors. There is a clear need
for an expansion of the free family
mediation service, in particular
outside the Dublin area, as at
present the only mediation centre
is in Dublin. In t he p r esent
atmosphere of cutbacks in State
services one cannot be very
o p t i m i s t ic t h a t t h is w i ll be
achieved. One can only hope that
the present service at least will not
follow the path of the legal aid
scheme set up under the Legal Aid
Board wh i ch started off w i th high
hopes but over the past few years
has seen itself underfinanced and
understaffed and unable even w i th
its best efforts to cope w i th the
enormous demand made on it.
INCORPORATED
LAW SOCIETY
OF IRELAND
OVERNIGHT
ACCOMMODATION
S i ng le or Doub le — £ 1 5 . 00
per n i g ht
( B r ea k f a st i nc l uded)
Also available at Week-ends
Telephone: 710711
WHERE THERE'S A WILL
THIS IS THE WAY...
When a client makes a will in favour of the
Society, it would be appreciated if the bequest
were stated in the following words:
"/ devise and bequeath
the sum of
Pounds
to the Irish Cancer Society Limited to be applied by it
for any of the charitable
objects of the Society, as it,
the Society, at its absolute
discretion,
may
decide."
All monies received by the Society are expended
wi t h in the Republic of Ireland.
"Conquer Cancer Campaign" is a Registered
Business Name and is used by the Society for some
fund raising purposes. The "Cancer
Research Advancement Board"
I r > I Q I
I
allocates all Research Grants
1 1 \ 1 3 I
I
on behalf of
the Society.
SOCIETY
llama
I I \ I y i i
CANCER
5 N o r t h u m b e r l a n d R o a d
D u b l i n 4
I r e l a n u
T e l: 6 8 1 8 5 5
MAKING A WILL? CHILDRENS LIVES
ARE ON THE LINE. HELP THEM GET
THROUGH TO CHILDLINE BY MAKING
IT IN AID OF ISPCC
i i
SPEAN TO
OR DIAL THE OPERATOR
AND ASK FOR FREEFONE
.
CHILDLINE
J
ISPCC ©
THE
CHILDREN'S
FRIEND
DIAL THE LINE AT
SEVENTY NINE DOUBLE
THREE DOUBLE THREE
2 79