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GAZETTE
N O V E M B E R
1977
It can apply to those professional people who work
together in close relationship within complex and often
large organisations: because of difficulties in the
performance of a professional task, the temptation is to
project one's distress on to others and thereby undermine
their capacity to perform their task. What is required is a
shared definition of authority — not the use of either
authoritarianism or immature dependency. If we cannot
come to a shared understanding of our boundaries — we
cannot possibly maintain the authority necessary to our
professionalism.
The importance of a grouping of the representatives of
different Professional Associations, such as the
Federation, is that it gives us the Forum within which we
can come to definitions of our inter-dependent
boundaries, to a definition of our shared professionalism,
and to common policy in our relationships with outside
bodies. Definitions of our inter-related and inter-
dependent boundaries allow those with working
relationship to maintain their authority in their performance
of their different tasks. Definition of our shared
professionalism supports each of us in the maintenance of
our professional standards and thereby reinforces the
value of professionalism as such. Having come to such
shared definitions, we can then develop common policy
through the combination of our skills and within the
authority structure of a shared task. Common policy
would allow us to properly take up our place in society.
It is noticeable that other groups have been able to
come to definition of their common aims much earlier
than we. Perhaps our concern to maintain the importance
of individual responsibility has slowed our efforts to say
so with one voice. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is
established as the central authority of the trade union
movement a long time. Congress has no authority in the
internal affairs of member unions — yet it can represent
the Trade Union movement in its relationships with
Government and Employer organisations. The Federated
Union of Employers represents management in industrial
relations in industry and business. The Irish Farmers
Association represents farmers within the State and
abroad. The members of these groups do not forego their
individual aspirations or responsibilities by belonging to
the group. They can develop authority structure by the
definition of common tasks and by taking roles in the
pursuance of those tasks.
Professional people have authority structures within
their own Professional Associations — why are we so
slow to define our common goals as professional people?
When we find ourselves ignored by Governments — is-
our reaction to waste talents in survival activities, with the
accompanying inevitable hostilities and destruction, or
can we reassert our authority by agreeing a definition of
the particular task in hand and using our many capacities
in pursuance of that task? Unfortunately, in my short
experience of this Federation, member Associations have
shared very little of themselves. The Federation seems to
be regarded as a cheap insurance policy — it might never
be needed but better keep it there in case of future
difficulties. This keeping the FPA in limbo does great dis-
service to the cause of professionalism — it neither allows
the FPA develop a proper authority structure, nor kills it
off to allow an alternative arrangement to develop. I put it
to you that such activity represents unprofessional
behaviour. If professionalism is seen by society to be
irrelevant, or even anti-social — we have only ourselves
to blame.
But, unfortunately, we bear a responsibility not only to
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ourselves, but also to society. We are the privileged few
who have had opportunities to take up occupations which
bring a larger measure of personal satisfaction, which
have allowed us take personal responsibility for our
actions, and in which human values predominate. We
have experience which can be of much value to a society
as yet capable of organising itself into fairly sub-divisions:
whether these be the Employer/Labour Conference or the
Party in Power and the Party in Opposition. What we
represent is Diversity organised. We represent the
delegation of authority in the pursuance of common aims
without the loss of a keenly-felt personal responsibility.
We have a responsibility to offer society the example of
such authority — both personal and collective. Society is
interested.
Communities are struggling with the need to find
expression for their individual and neighbourhood
identities and responsibilities within existing structures.
Churches are struggling with the need to express anew
individual and group relationships. Both employers and
employees are struggling to find new structures which will
allow the development of human potential. Can we affirm
our authority, take on the task and give society the
benefits of our insights and experience? If we do, there is
no doubt that it is we who will ultimately benefit — we
who will ultimately be seen to be relevant.
Nuala Kernan, President.
DUBLIN SOLICITORS' BAR ASSOCIATION
District Court No. 1, Morgan Place
District Justice Donnelly, on 8th December 1977,
made a Ruling intended to assist Solicitors practising in
his Court.
Henceforth, all applications for substituted service of
all documents in Justice Donnelly's Court, including Civil
Processes, Examination Orders, Instalment Orders and
Committal Summonses, will be taken on the first
Thursday of each month at 10.30 a.m.
On these dates, all appropriate Civil Bill Officers will be
required to attend.
The object of this Ruling is to overcome the difficulty
of securing the attendance of Civil Bill Officers who,
heretofore, may have been called to attend in Court at
least three times a week.
Urgent applications will, as usual, be dealt with at the
sitting of the Court on any day.
Justice Donnelly's initiative in this respect is much
appreciated and, if the scheme works as well as is hoped,
the Bar Association will suggest to the other Justices in
the Area that they should make similar Rulings.