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GAZETTE
OCTOBER- 1977
LIBRARY REPORT
Colum Gavan Duffy
Librarian
9
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Colum Gavan Duffy,
Librarian and
Editor of the Gazette
16.1
The services provided by the Library in the Four Courts have been expanded within the limits of the
space available. Efforts continue to be made to increase the number of copies of students' textbooks to cope
with the expanded number of students. The invaluable shelf space in the basement was withdrawn to make
way for consultation rooms, and no corresponding space elsewhere has been provided. This problem can only
be resolved by the erection of shelves in consultation rooms. .
16.2
New editions of standard legal textbooks and issues of leading legal periodicals have been
acquired. It is hoped to provide a full list in the November Gazette.
16.3
Mrs. Caroline Pfeifer successfully re-classified according to the Dewey Classification System the
textbooks in the Library in August and September. The Library building in Blackhall Place is not yet completed
but it is understood that the Library will move there in the Spring of 1978. Many members seem to favour the
maintenance of a skeleton library service in the Four Courts.
16.4
The total amount spent on the purchase of books for the year ending 30th April, 1977 was
£3,837 and on the purchase of periodicals was £677.30. The total amount spent on binding was £573.53.
The efTect of inflation is shown, when the corresponding amounts in the previous year in respect of books
were £3,310, periodicals £418, and binding £583, making a total of £4,311. Due to their high cost, the need
for libraries to provide essential books is more necessary than ever, as it is becoming ever more difficult for
practitioners to purchase them.
16.6
The legal publications of the European Communities, consisting of the daily Legislation and
Information Sections of the Journal, the Bulletin, the Annual Report of the Council, the bound and loose copies
of the Judgments of the Court, as well as the Legal Bibliography, and the National Decisions concerning
Community Law have been received. For comparative purposes, the office of the European Court in
Luxembourg is sending free the French text of the judgments. The French Conseil d'Etat has continued to
send a very useful summary of its decisions. Unfortunately the Council of Europe failed to provide most of
the publications which it had promised, but Mr. Kiernan, the Irish member of the European Commission, is
expected to successfully overcome this.
16.7
The Librarian thanks the Council for giving him the opportunity of attending the valuable 50th
Conference of the International Federation of Library Associations, which was held in Brussels from 2nd to
10th September. He wishes to express his sincere thanks to his Assistant Librarian, Margaret Byrne, whose
unfailing aid, courtesy, and efficiency were at all times invaluable to him. He also wishes to thank the Society
of Young Solicitors for kindly inviting him and his wife to their Seminars, in Tralee, in April, which he was
unable to attend due to illness, and in Sligo in October.
COSTS COMMITTEE
William A. Osborne
Chairman
17.1
In the early part of this year the Report of the National Prices Commission on remuneration was
issued and the Report was circulated to all members of the profession. Comment in relation to the Report was
circulated to the media and was published.
17.2
In accordance with the recommendations of the National Prices Commission application was then
made to the Supreme Court Rules Committee, to the Land Registration Rules Committee and to the other
appropriate Committees for increases in fees to the extent recommended by the Prices Commission.
Denis J. Bergin
Thomas Callan
Laurence Cullen
John J. Dockrell
Dominick Reams
William D. McEvoy
Gerald J. Moloney
Robert Pierse
John Rochford
Raymond M. Walker
William A. Osborne,
Chairman
17.3
The recommendations of Professor Lees and the comment of the Prices Commission in its Report
were studied in detail by the Society's Committee, who also sought comment from Mr. A. Somerville,
Lecturer in Economics, Trinity College, and from the Society's Consultants, Messrs. Coopers A Lybrand.
Consequent on the full detailed consideration given to the Report from the Prices Commission, the
Committee in May last made further detailed submissions to the Prices Commission which related to many
fundamental factors which, in the view of the Committee, the Commission overlooked in arriving at its
conclusions and recommendations. In particular, the Commission's failure to deal with criminal legal aid
costs, and the unsatisfactory position in the criminal legal aid scheme were referred to and highlighted.
17.4
The problems arising in relation to the criminal legal aid scheme have been dealt with and a more
satisfactory end result has meanwhile been achieved. The Commission has not yet commented upon the
Society's submissions, but an early response from the Commission is anticipated.
17.5
In addition, application has been made to the Commission for further increases in remuneration to
cover the period which has elapsed since the first submission was made and in relation to the present
application for further increases in fees a questionnaire issued some time ago from Messrs. Coopers &
Lybrand, seeking up-to-date information, which is absolutely essential for the purpose of justifying the
application made for further increases in remuneration. There has been a good response from the profession
but the Committee now asks all colleagues who have not yet completed and returned the questionnaire, to do so
immediately, so that the information can be processed and submitted to the Prices Commission as soon as
possible. Unfortunately office expenses are continuing to increase at a rapid pace and hence, it is absolutely
essential to have the application for further increases processed as quickly as that can be achieved, otherwise
remuneration in our profession will again lag far behind current remuneration in every other walk of life.
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