11 / 144
JUNE, 1933]
The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
7
hearing something interesting from him and
his remarks were always listened to with
attention and respect.
COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT.
You will have noticed that the Govern–
ment intend introducing at an early date
a Bill to amend the Courts of Justice Act,
and in anticipation of this measure being
introduced,
the Council have been con–
sidering the recommendations contained in
the Report of the Joint Committee of the
Oireachtas, and we have submitted certain
suggestions arising out of that Report to the
Minister for Justice for his consideration.
In a speech made by the Minister for Justice
at a Dinner given to him by members of the
Dublin District and Circuit Courts Bar
Association last week, he is reported in the
Press to have stated that when the draft
of this Rill was ready our Profession and
other persons interested would be consulted
in order that their views might be given every
possible consideration. The Minister is also
reported to have said that no Minister of the
Government should try to devise legislation
without contact with the people whom that
legislation will affect.
The members
of
our Profession
are
grateful to the Minister for this announce–
ment, and when the draft of this Bill is
submitted to us it will receive our most
careful consideration, and, if necessary, we
shall submit
further suggestions
for his
consideration, which, we
trust, will be
beneficial to both our profession and to the
members of the public.
CIRCUIT COURT RULES.
The new Circuit Court Rules have now
been in operation since the
1st January,
1932, and although they have worked satis–
factorily, I believe that certain defects have
now become apparent which should be
remedied at the earliest possible moment in
order to insure the smooth working of the
machinery of the Circuit Courts.
When these Rules were finally approved
of by the Committee who drafted them, it
was
anticipated
that certain
difficulties
might arise which could be overcome by the
Committee being brought
together again
for the purpose of amending or adding to
the Rules as they now exist.
DELAYS IN CIRCUIT COURT.
It was brought to the notice of the Council
that there was a large arrear of defended
cases awaiting hearing in the Dublin Circuit
Courts, and on enquiry, which
I have
recently made, I have been informed that
there are at present 325 cases for hearing,
all of which have been set down for trial
for a considerable time. We have two most
courteous, energetic and painstaking Judges
attached permanently to these Courts, but,
unfortunately, the services of both of them
are not available exclusively for civil business,
one or other having to sit frequently and
for long periods at Green Street for criminal
work.
When Circuit Judge Moonan was appointed
it was hoped that he would be assigned to
the Dublin Circuit, but, unfortunately, his
services have only been available for very
short periods in the Dublin Circuit Courts,
and I am of opinion that ttnless the Govern–
ment can arrange that two Circuit Judges
are continually available to transact the
civil business there will always be an arrear
of work in the Dublin Circuit Courts.
APPOINTMENTS.
The important post of Minister for Justice
in the present Government has been filled by
the appointment of Mr. Patrick J. Ruttledge,
a Solicitor who had a large practice in the
County of Mayo, and who was Auditor to
the Solicitors' Apprentices' Debating Society
in the year 1916-17. We can congratulate our–
selves'that a member of our Profession was
called on to occupy this important position.
It is also pleasing to note that Mr. Daniel J.
Browne, Solicitor, of Tralee, has been recently
appointed Secretary to the Department of
Justice. Mr. Browne was a distinguished
member of our Profession and obtained a
Gold Medal at the Final Examination in
1917.
It is a matter of great satisfaction to us
that these two most important offices should
be filled by members of our Profession, and
we trust that the Government, in making
other appointments, will continue to consider
the claims of our Profession.