The Gazette 1974

Snell (L. H. J.)

—Principles of Equity, 27th Edition,

Megarry and Baker,

1973.

Starke (J.

G. )—I n t r oduc t i on to International Law, 7th

Edition, 1972.

Stroud (F.)

—Judicial Dictionary—4th Edition—Vol-

ume 4.

Telling (A. E.)

—Planning Law and Procedure, 4th

Edition, 1973.

Tewson (M. )

—L a nd Law,

1973.

Thomas (Patricia A.)—

Evidence, 1972

(Cracknel'

Series).

Vaines (J. Crossley)

—Personal Property, 5th

Editi°

Tyler and Palmer,

1973.

Wade (E.

S.) and Godfrey Phillips—

Constitution

Law, 8th Edition, 1970.

Whitaker's Almanack,

1974.

Who's Who,

1973.

(The subsequent parts will follow in the J une

Gazette)

Presidential Address of FRANKL IN J. O' SULLIVAN, LL.B., Solicitor, delivered on Thursday, May 16th

TO ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE

FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL

ASSOCIATIONS

In an age when the controlling influence of the public

sector on the private sector of society has increased

alarmingly the professional organisations must reassess

their relationships with the community and the manner

in which they contribute to its welfare. " To promote

and advance the contribution of professional organ-

isations to the welfare of the community" is the first

object of this Federation.

Running right through our society today is the hidden

assumption that the satisfaction of material needs results

in greater progress and welfare for our people. In

developing the welfare state we have now approached

the position where almost 70 per cent of the gross

national product is under the direct control or com-

mand of the State and its agencies. T o cope with the

multitude of decisions which this expansion necessarily

requires, bureaucracy has the aid of computers and

newly-developed organisational disciplines. This organ-

isational trend easily leads to the temptation to develop

a society with aims that can be achieved more easily

in terms of the "mass" than in terms of the individual

and the variable. This temptation will very quickly be

translated into action if as a society we fail to dis-

tinguish between the economic management decisions

and those decisions which reflect social value judgments

on alternative strategies. T he right to participate in

shaping the values that govern our lives is the hallmark

of democracy. It is for this reason we will see a

growing demand for more direct democracy and the

creation of loser and special representation on different

subjects. This Federation has for a considerable time

urged the wisdom of participation in a National Econ-

omic and Social Council but being denied this direct

participation they must in my view now consider

whether they should seek more direct access to oui

legislators on those matters on which they have a

competence to speak.

Th e greatest need of our society in this context of

change and computerised control is to assess the value

judgments on which modern economic planning is

based. T he conventional belief that poverty is our

greatest misery has been shaken by the growing aware-

ness of mental illness in our society : one person in five

surviving to the age of seventy will be admitted at least

once to a psychiatric hospital and one our of every thre

persons consulting his family doctor has a psychiatry

aspect to his illness. These data were furnished if

week by the Attorney-General. Furthermore, the nai

belief in the removal of deprivations by means of tH

consumer society is no longer accepted as valid. J*

general fruits of the present affluent materialistic socie*)

have been enumerated as : alcoholism, attempted suj'

cides, deserted and beaten wives, vandalism and vi°'

ence, drugs and drug abuse. In this milieu the profes-

sional organisations which hitherto have kept a'

from value judgments on the larger goals of our society

must think again and think deeply. While individual

with specialised knowledge and experience have alway

sought to deal with social problems and suggest reffi

dies in an atmosphere of objective scientific truth th

collective professional expertise of the professions

now required and must be made available to th<j

public without fear or favour. All of us have a

vesti

interest in the management of our society and it shou'

not be beyond the abilities of our political leaders a"

our professions to ensure that our society of thre

million people progresses along the path that safeguard-

human liberty and happiness.

T h e ethical responsibility of the professions is

distinguishing mark of their status and if they fail "j

this ethical dimension they are no longer deserving

special respect from their fellow man or of spec'

rewards for their services. "Wh en needed my skill a"

knowledge shall be given without reservation for th

public good. From special capacity spring special obi

gation to use it well in the service of humanity;

accept the challenge that this implies." This is the hig'

ideal called for from the true professional ma n, ho^'

ever, often, like all sinners, he may fall by the waysid

We are a privileged elite and must give back something

to society beyond the call of duty or remuneration-

It is for this reason that we should consider tonig'

whether we can make a contribution to the g°

administration of society and by so doing ensure °

future evolution in keeping with man's inner needs a

asoirations. It is pertient here to recall the evaluation

of the professions made by the Commission on V0C

tional Organisation when it said : "Professional org

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