The Gazette 1988

GAZETTE

JULY/AUGUST 1988

Book Review Essays in Memo r y of A l ex i s Fi t zGera ld edited by Patrick Lynch and James Meenan. (Dublin: The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, 1988. x, 249pp. £15.99). T h i s Bo ok p u b l i s h ed by t he Incorporated Law Society consists of 13 Essays covering a w i de range of subjects, wh i ch reflect the deep t h o u g h t, studies, interests and a c t i v i t i es of t he l a te A l e x i s FitzGerald so t hat the book should appeal not only to t he legal pro- fession but t o the public generally. The i n t r oduc t o ry essay is by Ro n an F a n n i n g, P r o f e s s or of Modern History in U.C.D. His essay is a biographical one, in wh i ch he states t hat the major academic interests of Alexis FitzGerald, apart f r om economi c s, we re in history, literature and political philosophy wh i ch ex t ended in later life into t h e o l o gy and biblical s t ud i e s. Professor Fanning postulates t hat if Alexis had been in a position to pursue an academic career it might not have been in law. That may we ll be true, but I do not think his colleagues wou ld agree that Alexis held the conv i c t i on t hat " t h e law w a s no more t han a w a y to make a living". Alexis was a perfectionist and, having qualified as a solicitor he was de t e rmi ned to excel in the field of law wh i ch explains w h y he became a leading, if not, t he l e a d i ng s o l i c i t or in D u b l i n, contributing a series of long articles t o the Irish Jurist on Company Law. My only criticism of this book of Essays is the absence of an essay on Alexis, as a l awye r, t he profession to wh i ch he gave the greater part of his life. He had a deep c on v i c t i on t hat solicitors should provide a service to all clients, whe t her profitable or unprofitable. The late James Meenan, the f o r m e r P r o f e s s or of Po l i t i c al Economy, and Patrick Lynch, n ow Professor Emeritus of Political E c o n o m y, Un i v e r s i ty Co l l e g e, Dublin, came to k n ow Alexis while s t u d y i ng e c o n om i cs and t h ey became lifelong friends. Professor Meenan w r i t es of Alexis f r om their first mee t i ng in 1 9 3 7 w h en Alexis had t aken his degree in e c onom i cs and traces the deve l opment of A l ex i s 's t h o u g ht in relation to economics and politics, in wh i ch he lectured for 20 years in U.C.D. The

essay by Professor Lynch explains the way he and Alexis collaborated in giving a distinctively keynesian flavour t o the economic policies of the first Inter-Party Gove r nmen t. Th is es say is also e x t r eme ly interesting on the controversial subject of the t hen Taoiseach, Mr. John Costello's announ c ement in O t t awa in 1 9 48 of the intention of t he Go v e r nme nt to declare a Republic. The late Desmond Williams, the former Professor of Modern History in U.C.D., s h ows a deep insight into the character of Alexis and makes an accurate analysis and assessment of A l ex i s 's beliefs and t hought and their influence over his w i de interests and activities and concludes by saying, " h e was above all a just m a n " . T h e r e are a l so i n t e r e s t i ng con t r i bu t i ons by the President of U . C . D , P r o f e s s or Pa t r i ck Masterson, entitled " A r g u i ng f r om Intelligibility t o G o d " and by Pr o f essor Enda M c D o n a gh on politics and christology. Professor McDonagh quotes an amusing quip in a postscript to a letter he received f r om Alexis FitzGerald in 1 9 8 1, wh en acting as adviser to the then Taoiseach, wh i ch reads " I am, disgracefully, more interested

in the problems of christology t han I am in the grave political and e c onom ic p r ob l ems f ac i ng our c o u n t r y "! Of course, he in f act t ook a very deep interest in our economic problems, but this did not preclude his s t udy of christology. Dr. Conor Cruise-O'Brien wr i t es on religion and nationalism in his usual readable style. The former Chief Justice, Mr. Thomas F. O'Higgins, and Judge Declan Costello con t r i bu te essays on d i f f e r e nt a s p e c ts of t he Cons t i t u t i on, wh i ch is n owa d a ys such a controversial d o c ume n t. In his role as a Senator, Alexis FitzGerald wo r k ed tirelessly t o a c h i e ve t he i m p r o v e m e nt of legislation so that the essay on the Role of the Seanad by Professor J ames Dooge is an impo r t ant con t r i bu t i on to this book, as is P r o f e s s or J o hn Ke l l y 's e s s ay "Po l i t i cal Parties in the Da i l ". Also in the politial sphere we have the essay by Dr. Garret F i t zGe r a ld on t he An g l o - I r i sh A g r e e m e n t t o w h i c h w h e n Taoiseach he gave t op priority, wh i le Alexis FitzGerald, he states had s omewh at more concern for the economic problems of the c oun t r y. Included in the book are t w o con t r i bu t i ons by Alexis FitzGerald h i m s e l f . One e s s ay on I r i sh Democ r acy was published in the University Review 1 9 5 8, and the other on Eamon de Valera, w h om he admired in many w a y s and held in great esteem, was published in Studies in 1975. Both essays stand the test of t ime. An intimate friend, Judge Gerard Clarke, w h o I think it is true t o say greatly influenced t he t h o u g ht of Alexis FitzGerald on theological, social and moral matters, writes on the Trial of St. Thomas More. Essays on legal trials can be " d u ll reading" but Judge Clarke w h o has made such a deep s t udy of t he life of this great man, wh o se trial was in many wa ys a turning point in the history of England, has w r i t t en a most readable essay. These Essays are a fitting tribute t o t h i s w o n d e r f u l C h r i s t i an personality, scholar, l awye r, and politician and the Law Society is t o be c o n g r a t u l a t ed on t he publication. A.D. 185

RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM THE LAW SOCIETY Essays in Memory of Alexis FitzGerald edited by Patrick Lynch and James Meenan Price: £ 1 5 . 00 plus £ 2 . 10 p. + p. A Guide to Planning Legislation in the Republic of Ireland

by Kevin I. Now l an Price: £ 2 7 . 50 plus £ 2 . 10 p. + p.

Available f r om:

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