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GAZETTE
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1995
being discriminated against by the
I Incorporated Law Society." They
claimed that they could only become
solicitors in the Republic when they
| sat an examination which law students
with the same degree qualifications
from the Republic were not required
to sit." The
Irish Independent
and
Evening Press
also reported the case.
Solicitor for A.G.
The
Irish Independent
on the 13
December 1994 printed an article
headed "Solicitor for Attorney
General post call". It reported that
Michael D. Murphy
of the Dublin
Solicitors Bar Association has called
for the appointment of a solicitor as
the next Attorney Gene?al. Mr.
Murphy pointed out that many
solicitors have office experience and
office management experience and are
in the daily practice of drafting
complex contracts and agreements
which may be scrutinised by the
courts and also advising clients on
matters of law. Mr. Murphy also said
that "solicitors were also debarred
from applying for posts in the drafting
and advisory sections of the AG's
office ." He called on the new
Government to ensure that solicitors
can be recruited in both of these areas.
Michael T). Murphy was also
interviewed on this issue on
Today at
Five
, RTE 1.
Complaints and the Solicitors
(Amendment) Act 1994
An article by
Claire Grady
was
printed in the
Irish Independent
on 29
December 1994. The article referred
to the fact that the Solicitors
(Amendment) Act 1994 provides new
grounds for complaint and that
| because there are more grounds it is
I likely there will be an increase in the
Í number of complaints. The article
carried a sensationalist headline:
"Solicitors face surge in complaints."
Proposed Closures of Circuit Courts
In the
Irish Press
, the
Cork Examiner
I and the
Evening Echo
(29 December
1994) articles criticising the proposed
closure of a number of circuit courts
were published. The
Irish Press
under
a heading: "Row Brews over Courts
closedown" stated: "The Department
i of Justice has been taken to task by
the Bar Council of Ireland over
proposals to close eighteen court
venues countrywide as part of a major
revamp of the circuit court system".
. Representatives of the Law Society
met with the Minister for Justice on
5 January 1995. In the
Irish Times
on
6 January in an article headed "Owen
gives pledge on a courts commission",
it said that the Minister "would be
reviewing the provisions of the Courts
and Court Officers Bill 1994 to ensure
that the measures will adequately
; tackle the backlog of cases to be heard
| in all courts." She said there would be
a fundamental reform of the courts
system from District to Supreme
Court level.
The article concluded: "The Minister
made her remarks yesterday after
meeting representatives of the Law
Society who were concerned about
certain provisions of the Courts and
Court Officers Bill." Articles in the
Irish Press
and the
Irish Independent
also referred to the meeting.
Catherine Dolan
•
On 2 December last the Solicitor's
Apprentices Rugby Club hosted a
touring side from Linklaters and
Paines, Solicitors in London. A
match was played at Belfield in
which the home side came out on top
with a 40 - 8 win. A lavish reception
consisting of a three course meal and
hosted bar was then attended in the
Merrion Inn. The reception was
provided by
McCann
FitzGerald,
Solicitors and the club is extremely
grateful for their generous
contribution and assistance.
This was the first game in which the
Í Irish team sported new team kit, now
with a Law Society crest. The new
jerseys were sponsored by the Law
School and the club is most grateful
for this.
John Matson,
Team Captain
•
Rugby News
Irish Solicitor's Apprentice R.F.C. v Linklaters & Paines R.F.C.
The Irish Solicitors Apprentices Rugby Team who were the winners at the recent match
against Linklaters & Paines, London. Back row l-r: Dan Binchy, Stephen Fitzpatrick,
Pat Burke, Donogh McGowan, David McFadden, fames Candon, Brian O'Neill, Kieron
McCarthy, Rory O'Callaghan, Rob Boland, Philip O'Donnell. Front row l-r: Denis
Keane, Paul Neary, Peter Woodcock, John Matson, (Captain), Gareth Quigley.
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