The Gazette 1977

GAZETTE

MAY-JUNE

practice. This poses a considerable problem both for the

Profession and the Public as to how the country outside

the larger centres is to be served. In Dublin the

development of specialisation in the sphere of Criminal

Law could bring with it a greater identity between

solicitors and the barristers profession leading in time to a

possible type of fusion.

On the civil side of Legal Aid it is hoped that the

Pringle Committee on Civil Legal Aid may present its

Report this year and it is earnestly hoped by the Society

iat the implementation of this Report will not be long

delayed especially as the Government through the person

of the Attorney General, Mr. Declan Costello, S.C., has

already indicated its commitment to the early

introduction of a scheme of Civil Legal Aid.

A better educated and advised public is increasingly

conscious of its rights in the areas of marital, housing,

consumer and labour law. Legislation is contemplated or

already enacted to improve those rights, but the obtaining

of them is frequently difficult due to the cost of the

required legal process. Compared, for example, to the

medical services a scheme of Civil Legal Aid, or Criminal

Legal Aid for that matter, would cost a very small sum

indeed and on that account should be a priority target of

Government expenditure if the maintenance of the liberty

of the subject and the fundamental Rights Articles of the

Constitution, not to mention justice, are to be guaranteed

to the citizens of this State.

Having regard to the rapid development of Statutory

Tribunals in this country, die general lack of knowledge

on the part of the Public of their rights before such

Tribunals, coupled with recent Court decisions, the

Society is most concerned that from the inception of a

scheme of Civil Legal Aid that such a scheme should

embrace proceedings before Statutory Appeal Boards,

Social Welfare and all similar types of Tribunals where the

enforcement and maintenance of the rights of the citizens

are concerned.

The Free Legal Aid Service

The Profession is particularly proud of the record it has

of providing what is in effect a Free Legal Aid service on

a voluntary basis without remuneration both in the Civil

and Criminal field of Law and I would like to take this

opportunity in particular of paying a very special tribute

to the work of the Free Legal Advice Centres, staffed by

Law Students and assisted by members of the Legal

Profession on a totally voluntary basis. The work of the

younger members of the Profession most of whom are not

even qualified when giving their services entirely

gratuitously to F.L.A.C. must be seen as an inspiration,

not only to the Legal Profession itself, but to the

Community as a whole and I feel that in fairness and

justice to these young aspirants to the Legal Profession

and to those members of the Profession who assist them

they provide to a considerable extent an answer to much

of the criticism that is frequently unfairly levelled at the

Profession.

Before concluding I would like to say how gratifying it

has been to see the recent publication of the first

programme of the Law Reform Commission. I hope that

it will be possible for the Commission to pursue its

programme with diligence and that its recommendations

will be rapidly translated into legislation for the benefit of

the community. On this topic, may I be permitted to

express the hope that our legislators when enacting

amending legislation would periodically consolidate the

statutes wherever possible. The present position where the

ascertainment of the law in a particular area requires

reference to a principal statute and several amendments is

highly unsatisfactory and makes the law unnecessarily

complicated.

May I conclude by thanking my colleagues on the

Council and the General Membership of the Society for

the support given both to me personally and to the

Society in its various endeavours which it is earnestly

hoped will be to the benefit not only of the Profession, but

of the community at large whom we have the honour to

serve.

The President was received with applause at the

conclusion of his address.

Amendment of the Bye-Laws of the Society:

The adoption of the following additional Bye-Law was

proposed by Mr. Houlihan, seconded by Mr. Curran and

agreed unanimously:—

"38 (b) Any Past President of the Society who has

ceased at any time to be a member of the Council and

who notifies the Council in writing of his desire to

participate in the affairs of the Council shall, so long as he

remains a member of the Society, have the privilege of

receiving notices and agenda papers for and attending at

all meetings of the Council and to speak, but not to vote,

thereat. Provided however that such privilege may be

suspended and removed from any such Past President in

the same manner as is provided in Bye-Laws 47 and 48 of

the Society for the suspension and removal of a Member

of Council."

Proposed: Michael P. Houlihan;

Seconded: Maurice Curran.

Thanking the meeting for its acceptance of the new

Bye-Law, the President explained that it was designed to

facilitate the introduction of new blood to the Council

while at the same time retaining at both Council and

Committee meetings the experience of Past Presidents

who were prepared to continue to serve the Society in an

active capacity.

Finance

Mr. Gerald Hickey, Chairman of the Finance

Committee then said:

It gives me great pleasure to report to you today on the

Society's Retirement Pension and associated schemes of

Life Cover and Income Continuance. The Scheme is now

two years in existence and notwithstanding intense

competition, has already established itself as a feature of

the Society's services.

I am pleased to report that there has been a very

satisfactory increase in the level of subscriptions received

in the year ended 1st March last. Subscriptions were sixty

two per cent up on the previous year — this compares

with a projected increase of fifty per cent as reported at

the Tralee meeting last year. The level of increase in the

current year will certainly exceed the previous year,

though not by the same degree since the percentage

growth will obviously be more marked in the first two

years than it will be subsequently.

In all the circumstances, the target of £5m set for

March 1978 should be exceeded.

The performance of the Fund in the two years since