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The planning authorities of the administrative
areas of Dublin city and county and elsewhere
instruct their law agents to represent them at appeals.
If there are any authorities which do not at present
use the services of their law agents they may and no
doubt will do so whenever they think it desirable.
If the advice given by the Department to individual
appellants is followed they may be placed at a dis
advantage in the presentation of their cases where
the planning authority is legally represented.
Solicitors and counsel are precluded by
the
accepted rules of professional conduct from seeking
professional business by advertisement or other
improper means. In the submission of the Council it
is wrong that the State or any Government Depart
ment should seek to influence the public to forego
their legal rights of obtaining professional assistance
where their private rights are vitally affected. Much
as the Council regret to have to say it, this memor
andum, in its effect, is propaganda against the
profession. As such, it is not in the interests of the
public who rely upon the profession for the protec
tion of their constitutional liberty and rights.
The Council are seriously concerned at the issue of
this memorandum and the policy on which it is based.
They have instructed me to seek an interview for
their representatives with the Minister for the pur
pose of explaining their views and of having it
withdrawn.
Yours faithfully,
ERIC A. PLUNKETT,
Secretary.
ROAD TRAFFIC ACTS, 1933-1961
The Department of Local Government issued a
further statement as to the Orders, Regulations,
Bye-laws and Rules made under the above Act and
enforced for the time being. The statement covers
the position as of ist October, 1965, and supersedes
all statements issued by the Department on the
subject. The statement outlines the provisions of the
Road Traffic Act, 1961, which are now in force.
Particulars of the previous provisions of the Road
Traffic Act, 1962-1963, still in force are also included.
Copies of the statement may be obtained on applica
tion to the Secretary, Department of Local Govern
ment, Road Traffic Section, O'Connell Bridge
House, Dublin 2.
CIRCUIT COURT RULES
Mr. Richard Ryan, T.D., asked the Minister for
Justice if he will have steps taken to bring the rules
and practice of the Circuit Court relating to orders
of that Court into line with those of the Superior
Courts so that copies of the orders will be prepared
by the Court Registrars without requiring drafts of
such orders to be prepared by solicitors and sub
mitted by them to the Court offices for approval and
subsequent collection, engrossment and
resub-
mission for signature.
In reply the Minister for
Justice stated that the matter is one in the first
instance for the Circuit Court Rules Committee.
Mr. Lenihan stated that he would be prepared to
consider any proposals which the Rules Committee
might make in the matter.
SOCIAL WELFARE (OCCUPATIONAL
INJURIES) BILL, 1965
1. The object of the Bill is to introduce a system
of occupational injuries insurance similar to the
National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) insurance
system in England and Northern Ireland in sub
stitution for the present workmen's compensation
scheme. This is being done by extending the existing
State social insurance scheme to include provision
for compensation for disablement or loss of life
following occupational injury. The scheme will
apply compulsorily to persons now covered by the
Workmen's Compensation Acts, and persons who
are compulsorily insurable under the Social Welfare
Acts including non-manual workers with a remuner
ation not exceeding £1,200 per annum.
2. The benefits to be provided under the scheme
are as follows:
Injury benefit at a weekly rate equivalent to
£299 os. od. per annum for a period up to twenty-
six weeks. In addition benefit at the rate of
£108 os. od. per annum will be paid for an adult
dependant with £33 16s. ocl. per annum for each of
the first two qualified children and £20 ics .od .per
annum for each subsequent child (Section 8).
Disablement benefit which is not related to in
capacity for work but requires only loss of physical
or mental faculty (including disfigurement) i.e.
impairment of the power to enjoy normal life.
Disablement benefit will take the form of a pension
or a gratuity depending on the degree of disable
ment. Where disablement is assessed at 20% or
higher a pension will be payable at a maximum
rate of £299 os. od. per annum. Where disablement
is assessed at less than 20% a lump sum will be
paid subject to a maximum of £380 os. od.
(Section 9).
Constant attendance allowance will be provided
for a recipient of disablement benefit where it is
necessary as the result of loss of faculty. The
maximum rate is £2 os. od. per week or £4 os. od.
per week in extreme cases. (Section 13).
Death benefit. The widow of an insured person
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