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THE INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY OF IRELAND
GAZETT
OCTOBER 1 9 77
VOL. 71
NO. 7
Annual Report
of the Council
1976-77
THE PRESIDENT
REPORTS
The President
Bruce St. John Blake
1.1
In accordance with established precedent the reports of the Council and its various sub-committees are
published in the succeeding pages of this Gazette.
1.2
During my year of office a number of very important matters have engaged the attention both of the
Council and the members of our Society to which I wish to make-specific reference in this report.
1.3
The Policy Committee which is composed of the President, Vice Presidents, Past Presidents and the
Chairmen of the sub-committees of the Council met at the beginning of the year for the purpose of formulating
the policy whereby the affairs of the Society would be guided during the year. This meeting was held early in
January and a very wide range of topics was discussed and every aspect of the Society's activities for the year
was thoroughly examined and objectives were set on the basis of memoranda prepared by the sub-committee
Chairmen. In addition the organisation of the Society's internal administration was reviewed and improvements
with a view to achieving the maximum efficiency and level of service available to members were agreed.
1.4
I have endeavoured to the best of my ability and as time has permitted, to visit every Bar Association
throughout the country on at least one occasion during the year and I am happy to be able to report on the
vitality and effectiveness of the Bar Associations. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking each and
every one of the Bar Associations and in particular their officers for the courtesy and hospitality extended to me
personally and also to my wife, Grace. The President and the Council of the Society are dependant on the
individual Bar Associations for the implementation of the policy of the Society. It is for this reason that the
Meeting of Presidents and Secretaries of the Bar Associations has become an important annual event.
1.5
In my visits to and attendance at meetings of the Bar Associations I have endeavoured to deal with
what I have considered to be the major matters which have engaged the attentions of the Council on behalf of
and in the service of the members this year.
1.6
The Society's move of its headquarters to Blackhall Place this year together with the development of
the Society's premises there and the necessary funding operation has been one of the single most important
projects embarked upon by the Society since its foundation. The Society's administration is now firmly
established in Blackhall Place and the Council and its Committees have been meeting there on a permanent basis
since the month of July. I am very glad to be able to report that the profession's response to the funding
operation has been magnificent and the generosity of the many individual members who have subscribed to the
project has been most gratifying. I would like to emphasise that the Society will not be abandoning its presence
in the Four Courts, notwithstanding the sale of the two top floors for a satisfactory sum in ease of the Blackhall
Place Development Project. The Society will maintain essential services for members in the two remaining floors
of the Solicitors' Buildings at the Four Courts.
1.7
The Society's Retirement Scheme is being well supported by the members and the unit value has now
increased from £97.50 at its inception to £ 146.15.1 would remind members of the considerable tax advantages
that are to be gained by participation in the scheme. This is the Society's own self-funded scheme which in the
short period since it has been established, has had a very satisfactory and significant growth and its advantages
and benefits to the members will increase in accordance with the degree of support given to it.
1.8
The new Professional Indemnity Scheme organised by the Society through the Society's brokers J. H.
Minet (Ireland) Ltd. was established this year and is a product of three years work on the part of the Insurance
Sub-Committee of the Council. The scheme has received a significant degree of support and members are
strongly encouraged to consider their indemnity cover. In particular, any members who do not already have