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GAZETTE
OCTOBER 1977
11.7
The transfer to King's Hospital, Blackhall Place, was a milestone in the Society's development and
perhaps in the future Blackhall Place could be used to better advantage from the point of view of Public
Relations by having it brought before the public in many different ways related to the fact of course that it
now is the Solicitors Apprentices and the Profession's real home.
11.8
Good relations were maintained with the Public Service who have such a part to play in relation to
the competent and expenditious servicing of all the various operations that Solicitors perform on behalf of their
clients. It is indeed in this area that most good can be done to bring a better image to the profession having
regard to delays, frustrations and unnecessary communications which from time to time occur in transactions
with this branch of the Government.
11.9
Again the Director General and the administration staff give every assistance in dealing with
complaints and comments and made available to the Public Relations Committee all the necessary
information and material to cover such situations that arose from time to time, during the year.
11.10
In Public Relations one must always look at the commercial and the human elements and perhaps
it is in the latter that our Public Relations can be advanced by a more practical personal application in a
conscientious manner in each and every one of our relationships with our clients. Justifiable criticism in some
individual cases has come from the Public, which does reflect the general overall standing of Solicitors in the
Community. This criticism should be dealt with by not being hesitant in advising our fellow professionals and
by endeavouring to assist many of them in keeping up a proper standard of service and conduct even by
helpful criticism if necessary.
11.11
During the year, the good relationship with the English, Scottish, Northern Ireland and E.E.C.
legal associations were continued on a Professional and social basis. The Public relations of the Society were
very much advanced by the continued contact by the President and Director General by travelling to the Bar
Associations throughout the country. Added to this was the meeting in Dublin of Members of the Council with
the Presidents and Secretaries of all Bar Associations where a full descussion took place on the many problems
raised. This is to be an annual event.
11.12
To the present members of the Committee and to last year's Chairman, Walter Beatty, there is due a
sincere thanks for all the thought, time and effort which they gave.
Above all from a Public Relations aspect the opportunity cannot be allowed to pass without an
expression of appreciation to the President who, during the year, in every way, carried the Office to the Public
with the true sense of what the profession means to Society, but above all in his sacrifice and unselfishness in
putting such Office before his personal ambition. For his total commitment to creating a proper Public Relations
image on behalf of the Profession with the Public, he cannot be too highly praised.
PREMISES COMMITTEE
Moya Quinlan
Chairman
Gerald Hickey
Thomas Jackson
Gerald J. Moloney
Patrick C. Moore
Patrick F. O'Donnell
William A. Osborne
Peter D. M. Prentice
Mrs. Moya Quinlan,
Chairman
12.1
This year has been one of great achievement for the Premises Committee. In April the work of
reconstruction and alteration to the centre block was completed and the Director-General with the entire
administrative staff went into occupation of the offices in Blackhall Place during the Easter Vacation. It must
be said that the departure from the Solicitors' Buildings in the Four Courts was a remarkable achievement
and went without a hitch. For this, tribute must be paid to the Director-General, the staff and all concerned
for their efforts.
12.2
As members are aware the entire administration of the Society is now being carried on at Blackhall
Place. The consultation rooms are in constant demand as are some other areas of the centre block, for
meetings and social functions. It has been a great pleasure for the Premises Committee to welcome so many
of our colleagues as well as members of the Judiciary and the Bar to Blackhall Place. Indeed, the praise which
has been given to the work already carried out there has been most gratifying to the Committee.
12.3
Work on the Students' and Members' wing is almost completed. It is expected that this area will be
ready for use by March, 1978. In this part of the building will be located the Members' lounge, bar and
restaurant, as well as the library, lecture theatre, seminar rooms, students' restaurant and bar. Again, many
members will have seen this section of the building during recent visits. A feature of the Members' lounge is
the delightful gallery which in fact is one of the very few additions made to the existing building. It will be
remembered that in response to the request of Members at the Half-Yearly meeting in Wexford this year, a
decision was taken by the Council to proceed with the provision of five bedrooms in the Northern wing. These
rooms will be ready for use in early December. It is hoped that this facility will be fully availed of by
Members.
12.4
In July, negotiations with the Bar Council were finalised, for the sale to it of the first and second
floors of the Solicitors' Buildings, in the Four Courts. It is hoped that this sale will be completed before the
end of this year. The Society will be retaining the Hall Floor and basement of the Buildings for consultation
rooms and the copying and duplicating service presently maintained there. It is intended also to provide a
reference library for the use of members during term. Some alterations are envisaged on the Hall Floor to
provide for more consultation and arbitration rooms.
12.5
During this year, as in the previous one, the members of this committee have been unstinting in
their efforts to discharge the very heavy responsibility which has been entrusted to them by the Council. In
this they have been gready assisted by our Consultants, Mr. Terence Nolan and his Assistant Mr. Leonard
Morgan of Messrs. Nolan and Quinlan, Architects, Mr. Tom D'Arcy, Thomas D'Arcy
SL
Co., Quantity
Surveyors, Mr. Joe Tierney and Mr. Michael Callan of J. Tierney & Co., Consultant Engineers. A special
word of thanks must be given to our Clerk-of Works, Mr. Reburn for his unfailing co-operation at all times.
The Committee wishes also to express its appreciation to Mr. Paddy Doyle, foreman of G. & T. Crampton
Ltd., the Contractors, for the wonderful team-spirit shown by all involved in this challenging task.
12.6
The Committee looks forward to the continued support and encouragement of the members of the
Society in their efforts to make this undertaking an outstanding success and something of which future
members of the profession will be proud.
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