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adopted by the Council and it was ordered that
a draft memorandum to the Committees should
be prepared in support of the application.
Solicitors' Bill
THE Council considered a report from a deputation
consisting of the President, Mr. John S. O'Connor
and the Secretary, who attended at Government
Buildings at the request of the Minister for Justice
on the subject of the Solicitors' Bill, on lyth
October. The report stated that the Minister had
informed
the deputation
that he had brought
before the Government the submissions of the
Council against the amendment of the Bill pro–
viding for an Indemnity Fund and had persuaded
the Government with some difficulty to agree to
introduce the Bill as a Government measure without
these provisions.
The Bill would now be sent
to the Parliamentary Draftsman.
The Minister
had stated that the Government had requested
him to suggest that the Society, as a voluntary
measure, should set up a fund to provide com–
pensation for losses suffered by clients in cases
of hardship due to solicitors' defalcations.
The
administration of such a fund as
the Minister
suggested would be in the hands of the Council
and any payments made thereout would be dis–
cretionary.
The suggested fund would not be
created under any Statutory powers but by rules
to be made by the Society. He made it clear that
the Council's agreement to the suggestion was
not a condition precedent to
the
introduction
of the Bill by the Government.
The Minister
had further stated that it is quite possible that the
question of an indemnity fund will be raised by
members of the Dail when the Bill is under dis–
cussion and that strong pressure may be exercised
on the Government to amend the Bill to provide
for such a fund. If the Council accepts the Govern–
ment's suggestion as to the creation of the voluntary
fund the task of the Government in face of such
opposition would be easier.
If the Council do not
adopt
the suggestion of the Government
they
will still introduce the Bill, but the position may
have to be reconsidered in the event of strong
pressure by members of the Dail or Senate for the
setting up of a fund. During the discussion the
Minister was asked whether the Government had
in mind a contribution from
the State funds
towards the suggested scheme.
He replied that
the Government had not considered this matter
but did not reject the suggestion.
Having considered the report of the deputation,
it was
resolved
that the Minister be
informed
that
the Council have no authority to agree to
the suggestion as to the setting up of a voluntary
fund or to alter
the views already expressed on
a number of occasions on the subject and tha
it is noted with satisfaction that the Government
will introduce the Bill as a Government measure.
NOVEMBER. i4th. The President in the chair. Also
present: Mr. Roger Greene, Vice-President ;
Messrs. A. Cox, P. F. O'Reilly, J. Barrett, J. P.
Tyrrell, J. R. Quirke, W. S. Hayes, C. G. Stapleton,
P. O'Connor, P. R. Boyd, S. 6 hUadhaigh, H.
St. J. Blake, W. J. Norman.
The following was among the business transacted :
Solicitors' Remuneration
DRAFT memorandum to the Committees in support
of application for increase in Solicitors' remuneration
considered.
Application under Section 16
REPORT
from
the Court of Examiners on an
application by a law clerk for liberty to be bound
for three years only under Section 16.
Ordered
the application be granted.
Applications under Section 18
Two applications for exemption from the Pre–
liminary Examination were considered, and on
the report from the Court of Examiners it was
ordered that no opposition be offered before the
Chief Justice.
Auctioneers' Bill, 1946
REPORT of the Secretary on the Auctioneers' Bill,
1946, considered and adopted.
SOLICITORS' APPRENTICES'
DEBATING SOCIETY
THE Inaugural Meeting of the Solicitors' Appren–
tices' Debating Society of Ireland was held on
October 25th, when the Auditor, Mr. George J.
Colley, delivered an address on " What of to–
morrow ? " The Chair was taken by Mr. Daniel
O'Connell, President of the
Incorporated Law
Society of Ireland. The speakers were : Mr. Patrick
J. Little, T.D.; Mr. John A. Costello, S.C., T.D.;
Mr. Micheal O Cleirigh, County Registrar; Mr.
John P. McNally, B.A., N.U.I.
The following
medals were presented by Mr. O'Connell:
Oratory, Incorporated Law Society's Gold Medal:
James M. Farrelly; Society's Silver Medal: Des–
mond J. Dowdall; Special Certificate :
Donal B.
O'Sullivan ; Legal Debate, President's Gold Medal:
James M. Farrelly ; Society's Silver Medal: George
J. Colley;
Impromptu Speeches, Vice-Presidents'
Gold Medal: John P. McNally ; Vice-Presidents'
Silver Medal: Desmond J. Dowdall; Irish Debate,
Society's Gold Medal: Donal B. O'Sullivan;