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GAZETTE
MAY-JUNE
necessary final adjustments. The Education Advisory
Committee and its many "course" sub-committees are
well ahead in the formulation of the intensive programme
envisaged and a start has been made in the preparation of
the necessary detailed study material. A Director of
Training, Mr. L. Sweeney, is due to take up this newly
created position on the 1st June, 1977. The Society is
deeply indebted to all concerned with the development of
its new Educational Programme and I am glad to be able
to take this opportunity of paying a special tribute and
extending the thanks of the Society to the University
Authorities in this country in particular who have co-
operated in every way with the Society in its endeavours
in this regard.
Unfortunately, due to the teaching requirements of the
high intensity course with its unavoidably heavy costs it
will be necessary to limit the maximum intake number in
any one year to 150 apprentices. I would like to
emphasise that this is substantially more than the number
required to meet the natural wastage in the profession, but
it falls short of the total numbers currently seeking
admission to the Society's Law School. It is thus
important that those concerned with career guidance
should be aware of the situation and, indeed, the Society
has already alerted them to this fact.
The Public Image of the Profession
I consider it appropriate that on an occasion such as
this that I should refer to the profession's public image.
The Profession's role and the nature and complexity of
the problems with which it has to deal are to a very large
extent both misunderstood and misconceived by the
Public. The Society processes with the utmost possible
expedition all enquiries and while some of these,
particularly with regard to delays may be justified the
Society makes every effort to rectify any problems that
arise as a result. Indeed the Society has received many
expressions of thanks for the assistance and results
obtained from enquiries in this regard. In this difficult
area of the Society's activities the media have shown an
understanding and appreciation of what the Society is
endeavouring to achieve and I would like to take this
opportunity of expressing the thanks of the Society for the
degree of co-operation received from them.
Garda brutality
Recent months have witnessed allegations of brutality
on the part of individual members of the Garda Siochana.
The Society is concerned that such allegations have been
made because it believes that the Garda Siochana is one
of the finest police forces in the world of which fact the
legal profession in this country is justly proud and holds
them in the highest esteem. I am glad to have yet another
opportunity of publicly paying tribute to the work and
dedicated service that the Garda Siochana have given and
are continuing to give to the people of this country in
which they have the fullest possible support of the
Society. Members of the Society throughout the country
maintain excellent relations with the Garda Siochana, but
the Force will appreciate that the Society is particularly
concerned that the rule of law and the liberty of the
subject be observed at all times, especially by those
responsible for the administration of justice. The Garda
Siochana are an essential element in the observance of the
rule of law and the protection of the rights and liberties of
the individual. Because of the importance of the Garda
Siochana in regard to this function it is most vitally
necessary, both for the Force itself and the Public, that
this function should be seen to be carried out in a just,
impartial and proper manner. On this account it is
desirable that the establishment of an autonomous Garda
Authority should be seriously considered by the
Government. I would once again like to emphasise that
the Society is particularly concerned that the good name
and image of the Garda Siochana be maintained and I
would once again like to publicly pay tribute to the Force
which is looked upon by the members of the Society as a
Body of the highest integrity.
Right to speak out clearly on vital matters
In looking to the future it seems that the Society can,
and should, articulate what it considers to be the needs of
the Irish community in the last quarter of the 20th
century. The Society considers that it is both the right and
duty of lawyers to speak out clearly to the community on
matters that it considers to be of vital concern to them in
their daily lives. This is the right of any citizen, but it is in
my view a duty that is incumbent upon the legal
profession who are uniquely placed to judge situations
which are of vital importance to the citizens of which they
may not themselves be fully or adequately aware. The
need to create an air of expedition and urgency in the
processing of Court business is of very great importance
to the Community. The entire legal process in the Court
area is far too slow and cumbersome and with the hoped-
for imminent emergence of Legal Aid the system as at
present constituted is unlikely to be able to cope
adequately with the new situation that is envisaged in
consequence if in fact at all. On that account the Society
is glad to see that the judicial establishment is to be
increased. In itself this step is unlikely to achieve a great
deal unless it is accompanied by a significant increase in
support staff and the provision of adequate Court
accommodation. In this regard the Legal Profession is
particularly conscious that Family Law in this country is
an area of rapid expansion and as the situation stands at
present I do not believe that any of us can yet visualise
how far this expansion will develop and how it will be
serviced. I am glad, however, to be able to record the
Society's welcome for the recent announcement by the
Department of Justice of the proposed provision and
expansion of facilities for Family Law Courts in the
immediate future.
Legal Aid
In the coming years the greatest challenge facing the
Legal Profession is likely to be in the area of Legal Aid.
On the Criminal side, the recent Supreme Court decision
in the
Foran v. Healy
case deciding in effect that a citizen
accused of a criminal offence is entitled as of right to legal
aid will undoubtedly have far reaching consequences for
all concerned, particularly those charged with the
administration of justice and the Legal Profession. If our
experience is similar to that of the United States of
America following the
Gideon v. Wainwright
judgment of
the U.S. Supreme Court in 1963 which was to the same
effect as the decision of our Supreme Court in the
Foran
v.
Healy
case, then in the very near future Criminal Law,
especially in the Higher Courts will become a specialised
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