The Gazette 1985

GAZETTE

APRIL 1985

Criticism of Government

Office Delays

ELAYS in Government offices, particularly the

Probate Office, were criticised by Mr. Gerald M.

Doyle at the half-yearly meeting of the Incorporated Law

Society of Ireland in Kenmare on April 27, 1985.

Why, asked Mr. Doyle, does the Probate Office close at

1.00 p.m. during the Long Vacation and is not prepared to

take documents by post? He felt the Society would have to

exert continuing pressure in view of the embargo on

recruitment in the Public Service, to ensure that the

services to the profession by Government Departments

was satisfactory.

Commenting on the use of the Irish language, he urged

that in its deliberations on the amendments of the

Solicitors' Acts governing admission to the profession the

Society should not get into the question of having the

statutory Irish requirement repealed. Mr. Doyle also

suggested that the Society should look at the question of

establishing a Stationery Office for solicitors similar to

that organised by the English Law Society.

Mr. John L. Bowron, Secretary-General, the Law

Society of England and Wales, explained that his Society

had now no direct involvement with the supply of

stationery to solicitors' firms.

Supporting Mr. Doyle's comments about the Probate

Office, Mr. Vincent Crowley said it was now impossible to

enforce Court Orders due to the lack of staff in the various

Civil Service offices. He asked the Society to put pressure

on the State to improve enforcement proceedings.

Concluding the discussion Mr. John Healy pointed out

that Kenmare was 210 miles from Dublin but, in practice,

it might as well be 2,100 miles since it was impossible to

get any standard of service from the various Government

offices with which he had to deal.

Single practitioner offices

Concern was expressed by Mr. Gerald Goldberg at the

number of young solicitors commencing practice in Cork

on their own account. They were good lawyers and very

keen, but financial security was not available with the

result that some were running into financial difficulty.

Consequently, they might be in danger in more ways than

one. He advocated that the paternal side of the profession

should keep in contact with such young lawyers. The

Society, he continued, should not be depressed by the

inordinate and unfair criticism of the media. The

profession had its problems but it was facing them with

dignity and concern and sound common sense. He

considered that the profession would emerge from the

crisis of public confidence in a much stronger position.

Concluding, Mr. Goldberg congratulated the President,

officers and staff of the Society's administration for the

excellent work done on behalf of members.

Ms. Heather Debeir said that as a sole practitioner,

recently established in practice, Mr. Goldberg's comments

in relation to sole practitioners made her very depressed.

In Dublin, certain young practitioners had combined

under the heading of 'Forum' to exchange experiences

and she urged young solicitors in Cork to do likewise. Mr.

Ken Murphy said there was a suggestion emerging that

young qualified people should not be allowed to set up in

practice for 2/3 years. In an ideal world, that suggestion

would be acceptable but in the present-day situation, with

unemployment and low remuneration, there could be no

argument for it. The Society should not seek to restrict the

setting up of young solicitors in practice since to do so

could well be seen as protectionism and earn the

resentment of the younger members of the profession.

Mr. David Pigot said the Law Society should make it clear

to all concerned that experienced members of the

profession are only too willing to assist their younger

colleagues in dealing with particular problems.

Retirement Fund

Reporting on the Retirement Fund, the Vice-Chairman

of the Finance Committee, Mr. E.J. Margetson, said the

current value of the Fund (established in 1975) is almost

£5m. and the increase in the past year was 14.7%. He

commented that the initial £100 invested (net £97.50) in

1975, would have been worth £470 on 1st March, 1985.

The annual average increase over the 10 year period of the

Scheme was 37.1%, free of tax. Approximately 69% of the

total Fund is invested in Ireland which includes an

investment of 3% of property and 3.5% in an Exempt

Property Unit Fund. The major external investments

comprise EEC fixed interest bonds, and Japanese and US

Equity Investments representing 18% of the entire Fund

with the balance of approximately 13% invested in the

UK. Membership of the Fund increased during the year

and the Committee for the Fund was pleased to see that

some of those joining were in the 30/40 age group. Mr.

Margetson also drew attention to the Income

Continuance Plan organised for the Society by Irish

Pensions Trust Ltd.

The President, Mr. Anthony E. Collins, before

delivering his address, a copy of which is filed with the

Minutes of the meeting, proposed that members stood in

silence to the memory of two former Presidents of the

Society, Mr. P.C. Moore, and Mr. Patrick Noonan.

The President thanked the Kerry Law Society and its

President, Mr. Donal E. Browne, for the welcome which

he had given to members of the Society and their overseas

guests.

Formal Proceedings

The notice convening the meeting was taken as read

and adopted. The minutes of the Annual General Meeting

held on 16th November, 1984, which were published in

the December, 1984, issue of the

Gazette,

were taken as

read and signed by the President. The following were

appointed as Scrutineers of the Ballot for the Council for

1985/86:—

Messrs. L. Branigan, G. Doyle, J.R.C. Green, E.

McCarron, A.J. McDonald, P.D.M. Prentice, R.J.

Tierney, W. Beatty.

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