The Gazette 1988

GAZETTE

APRIL 1 988

Bar Associat ion News

Meeting of the President with the Limerick Bar Association The President met w i t h t he Limerick Bar Association on the 22nd February, 1988. There was an attendance of approximately 40 members under the Chairmanship of Mr. Dermod Morrissey-Murphy. The meeting discussed a number of topics and in particular the Pro- fessional Indemnity Insurance Scheme and Bank and Building Society's Certificates of Title. In answer to criticism expressed by the meeting that the Law Society had not consulted the members of t he profession about signing Certificates of Title, the President outlined the detailed negotiations which had taken place between the Law Society and the Building Society and Banks resulting in a compromise which is now working fairly well from the members point of view. Meeting of the President of the Sligo Bar Association The meeting took place at the Park Hotel, Sligo on the 23rd February, 1988.

The President's Meeting with the County Laois Ber Associetion The President and the Director General attended the meeting at the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise on the 24th February, 1988. Members of the Carlow Bar Association were also invited to attend. The meeting discussed the Loosemore and Parsons Seminars and the members in attendance felt that they were beneficial to the profession. The President outlined the proposed changes in Convey- ancing and Litigation and, in particular, the abolition of jurys from the 31st of July, next and the proposed Building Societys Bill. The meeting felt that competition from lending agencies would mean that Solicitors will have to become involved in other areas such as Estate Agency. In relation to the abolition of Juries the President expressed his view that Solicitors should become more involved in advocacy and in particular should appear more in the Circuit Court. •

The Director General also attended. Mr. Brian Armstrong, the recently elected President of the Sligo Bar Association presided at the meeting and there was an attendance of almost eighty five per cent of the solicitors from Sligo. A lengthy discussion took place as to the future role of the profession in Ireland and there was a strong feeling that, in view of the pro- posed changes in conveyancing practice, solicitors should extend their areas of practice to include insurance matters, estate agency and financial advice. The President urged all members to attend the C.L.E. Courses which are being run by the Law Society and in particular t he self- assessment seminars being run in conjunction with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Advertising by the profession was discussed and views were expressed in favour of institutional advertising with the object of encouraging people to consult their solicitors early in any trans- action.

EUROPEAN LAWYERS UNION CONGRESS IN RHODES JUNE 1988 The European Lawyers Union, the recently established organisation of practising Lawyers from the Member States of the EEC, is holding its second Annual Congress on the Greek island of Rhodes from Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th June 1988. The title of the working programme (three half-day sessions) is: "Undertakings in the EEC Present Status and Perspectives for 1992 99 In this general context there will be a wide range of topics including competition law, financial and taxation aspects of undertakings, agricultural undertakings, social aspects of undertakings, intellectual property rights, the Single European Act etc. The speakers will include Judges of the Court of Justice, officials of the EEC Commission and private lawyers. The social activities should also be worth the trip. Members and non-members alike are very welcome. For further information (or information generally on the organisation) please contact as soon as possible: GERALD MOLONEY, G. J. Moloney & Company, Solicitors, 2 7 / 2 9 Washington Street, Cork. Telephone: 0 2 1 / 2 7 5 2 61 Fax: 0 2 1 / 2 7 1 5 86

63