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GAZETTE
Pending legislation. Having regard to our very limited
resources, the task is a daunting one. Nevertheless, I am
pleased to be able to record my appreciation of the work
done by the Society's Parliamentary, Conveyancing and
Company Law Committees in the examination of draft
legislation over the past year. I know this work is con-
tinuing. However, I would like to see a greater partici-
pation by the general membership of the Society, though
comment on draft legislation in so far as they can assess
its impact on the day to day affairs of practice.
Comment by the Society would not be fruitful, were it
not that there is a ready acceptance on the part of those in
Government and in the Civil Service of the Society's view-
Point. At all times we have received a continuous hearing.
While understandably it is not always possible to have
one's point of view accepted, at the same time it is true
that many pieces of legislation embody amendments
arising from the work of the Society's Committees. I
express my personal appreciation to all concerned.
The President then called on the Senior Vice-President,
Mr. Gerald Hickey, to report on the progress of the
Superannuation Scheme. Mr. Hickey said that this
Scheme had been a great success, and had produced a
capital of £500,000. The present value of the unit was
6lp which represented an investment return of 20%. The
Partial equity investment of the fund represented 46%.
Section 22 of the proposed Finance Bill, 1978, appeared
to be a stumbling block, as no one knew how it would
work. The Fund represented an Income Continuance
Plan inasmuch as various improvements subject to a 5%
increase had been introduced, which would henceforth be
covered, such as solo flying, alcoholism, and pregnancy.
This was one of the best schemes in the country, which
other professions envied.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mrs. Grace St. John Blake queried whether the name
"Incorporated Law Society of Ireland", conferred by a
Charter of 1877, could be changed to "The Law Society"
without an amending private Act of the Oireachtas. Mr.
McEvoy, Chairman of the Public Relations Committee,
replied that the Committee was aware of the legal
position, but that in popular parlance they wished the
premises in Blackhall Place to be known as the Law
Society. Mr. Gerard Doyle stated that he would object to
the new name. Mr. John Griffin (Dundalk) suggested it
should be called "Arus an Dli".
Mr. Dominick Kearns (Portumna) referred to the
Compensation Fund. The sum of £1 million appeared to
include sums representing overheads of the Society, and
suggested it should be replaced by a small fee. The-
President replied that the cost of administration is now
much heavier, as Mr. Healy and Mr. Connolly have to
investigate solicitors accounts, which ultimately tends to
benefit the Compensation Fund. Mr. Gerard Doyle,
Chairman of the Compensation Fund Committee,
concurred.
Mr. Bruce St. John Blake, Chairman of the Finance
Committee, expressed his appreciation of all those who
had contributed to the Blackhall Place Development
Fund which he was glad to state was very much on target.
The building programme was making satisfactory
progress, and the official opening ceremony would be
Performed by the Taoiseach on 14th June.
EDUCATION
Mr. Alan Shatter stated that the fee of £900 which it
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was proposed to charge apprentices for a six-month
intensive course in Blackhall Place, was very high com-
pared to fees charged in the universities. He asked
whether Government grants or scholarships could be
obtained, as in his view this fee was totally unrealistic for
students. The President said that the Law Society course
would be much more intensive than the universities. There
would also be a much smaller staff-student ratio. Mr.
Maurice Curran, Chairman of the Education Committee,
said that tjie present cost of the average student was now
£400. As regards these future courses, arrangements
would be made with banks to provide suitable loans to
students, and there would be practically no failure rate.
The course would consist of a working apprenticeship.
The President added that the Council could determine the
form which the education of the solicitors in the future
would take. While every decision was open to review, the
Society must continue to exercise its educational pro-
gramme responsibly. Mr. Shatter said that he considered
it unrealistic to state that Banks would grant bank loans
to students; some alternative form of loan should be
devised.
Commission of Inquiry
on Industrial Relations
Mr. Bruce St. John Blake, Solicitor, has been appointed
a
member of the recently established Commission on
Industrial Relations by the Minister for Labour, Mr.
Gene Fitzgerald; T.D.
The Commission was established by the Minister for
Labour with the following terms of reference:
"In view of the importance of industrial relations
procedures and practices for the economic and social
development of the country and for the welfare of the
community, to consider and report on industrial relations
generally, and in particular on
(1) the practices of employers and their organisations
and of workers and their trade unions under the
system of free collective bargaining,
(2) the relevance of statute law to industrial relations and
(3) the operation of institutions, structures and
procedures,
and to make recommendations."
It is expected that following the Commission's recom-
mendation, the Minister will introduce legislation.
The Commission will be chaired by Mr. Séamus Ó
Conaill, former Secretary of the Department of the Public
Service and comprises five members nominated by the
Employer-Labour Conference,five member nominated by
the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and five members
nominated by the Minister. Apart from Mr. Blake the
other members nominated by the Minister are Professor
Basil Chubb, T.C.D., Mrs. Eunice McCarthy, Lecturer in
Industrial Psychology, U.C.D., Tadhg Ó Cearrbhaill,
Secretary of the Dept. of Labour, and John J. Walsh,
Chairman of the National Prices Commission.
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