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GAZETTE
N W
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1995
Action on Delay in
Court Cases Agreed
At its meeting on 15 December 1994,
the Council considered the following
motion: "that this Council notes with
concern the increasing delay in our
courts and resolves to take all possible
steps to encourage such changes as
are necessary to enable persons
having business before the courts to
be dealt with as expeditiously as
possible"
Concern was expressed at the current
delays in the Circuit and High Courts.
The previous joint' submission with
the Bar Council to the Minister for
j
Justice on the courts service was
referred to and the President and the
Council agreed to reactivate the issue
as a matter of priority.
The recent published Programme for
Government was referred to. This
gave a commitment to the
establishment of a commission on the
management of the courts as an
independent and permanent body,
with financial autonomy. It was also
stated that "the Government will
review the provisions of the Courts
and Court Officers Bill, 1994, to
ensure that measures will adequately
address the need to tackle the backlog
of cases to be heard in all courts." It
was also noted that a Committee has
been established to examine the
existing organisation of the Circuits
and to make recommendations for
revisions. Disappointment was
expressed that the Law Society had
not been consulted, particularly since
it represents 80% of the legal
profession. It was agreed that
immediate action was needed. The
motion was passed.
President Appointed as Acting
Director General
As and from 1 January, 1995,
Mr.
Patrick Glynn
was appointed acting
Director General, pursuant to
Regulation 19 until such time as a
Permanent Director General took
up office.
Compensation Fund
The Council approved a schedule of
payments from the Fund (see page 6).
Draft Statutory Instruments
The Council approved three draft
Statutory Instruments, providing for
(a) a new form of application for a
practising certificate for the year
1995/96 (b) a new form of practising
certificate for 1995/96 and (c) the fees
payable by solicitors for the practice
year 1995/96. All three Statutory
Instruments reflected changes
contained in the Solicitors
(Amendment) Act, 1994 and applied
only to the practice year 1995/96.
Finance
On the recommendation of the
Finance Committee, the Council
approved an increase of £10 in the
registration fee element of the
practising certificate fee for 1995/96
from £525 to £535 for solicitors who
were admitted for three years or more.
This represented an increase of 2.3%
in the registration fee operating for the
practice year 1994/95. The Council
also approved an increase of £7 in the
registration fee for solicitors admitted
less than three years from £366 to
£373. The decision was taken as part
of the Council's continuing response
to the views expressed by the
members at successive General
Meetings that the Society should
address its financial situation.
Litigation
The Litigation sub-committee on
'capping' reported on the various
steps it was proposing to take on this
issue.
Remuneration/Costs
The Council approved a draft
agreement on solicitors charges,
intended to meet the requirements of
section 68 of the Solicitors
(Amendment) Act, 1994, which would
be circulated to the profession in
advance of 4 February, 1995 (the
operative date of Section 68).
Establishment of Review Group to
Examine Structure of the Law Society
The establishment of the review group
was discussed and it was decided that
the President would bring forward
proposals for discussion at the January
Council meeting.
Departure of Director General
The meeting concluded with a tribute
to
Mr. Noel C. Ryan,
Director
General. The Council thanked him for
his hard work and commitment over
the previous four years and wished
him well in his future employment.
•
Company and
Commercial Law
Committee
The submissions made by the
Company and Commercial Law
Committee to the Company Law
Review Group established by the
Minister for Enterprise and
Employment are available from the
Society. The Booklet contains
submissions dealing with e.g.
Companies (Amendment) Act 1990;
investigations; insider dealing; and
restrictions on Directors within the
Companies Act 1990 together with
the position of farmer creditors and
matters arising out of the
recommendations of the Small
Business Task Force.
The Booklet may be obtained from:
Eileen Brazil,
The Law Society,
Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.
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