The Gazette 1949-1952

Educational Panel pursuant to the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947, Section 22 Arthur Cox, Francis J. Gearty, Patrick F. O’Reilly, James R. Quirke, John J. Sheil. The motion was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. It was decided that an Ordinary General Meeting o f the Society should be held on 27th November 1952. Mr. Overend proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Roger Greene for his distinguished services to the Society as President during the past year. The motion was carried with acclamation. The President replied and the meeting terminated. MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL N ovember 8 th . The President in the Chair—-also present, Messrs. Arthur Cox, Reginald J. Nolan, Sean 0 hUadhaigh, Joseph P. Tyrrell, Daniel O’Con­ nell, James R. Quirke, Thomas A. O’Reilly, George A . Overend, John J. Sheil, Patrick F. O ’Reilly, Patrick R. Boyd, James J. O’Connor, Ralph J. Walker, Desmond R. Counahan, William J. Norman, John Carrigan, Joseph Barrett. The following was among the business trans­ acted :—- Admission o f Barrister-at-Law O n a report from the Court o f Examiners the Council decided that a Barrister-at-law who had practised at the Irish Bar for two periods, together aggregating five years, having spent the intervening period-abroad in the British Legal Colonial service, was of five years standing at the Bar for the purpose of admission as a Solicitor under Section 29 of the Solicitors’ (Ireland) Act 1898. Police Reports M embers wrote complaining of the practice in cer­ tain districts whereby a fee of 5/- is required for a copy o f a Police report. They stated that in many cases the reports when received turned out to be of little value and suggested that the Minister should be asked to prescribe the charges on a folio basis. The Council decided that it would be inexpedient to make any representations on the matter. Amalgamation o f Practices O n a report from a Committee the Council decided that where a firm of Solicitors acquired several other firms, there was no objection to the inclusion in small type on their business notepaper o f the names o f the firms so acquired. 51

it difficult to explain to their clients why it is necessary to have three barristers retained, and paid fees, in a case when frequently only one is in attendance in Court. This is a matter which I feel merits the serious consideration o f the solicitors’ profession and the Bar. I am quite sure a solution can be found which will be satisfactory both to the Bar and solicitors, profession and more satisfactory to litigants. B ar A ssociations : Finally, I would like to deal with a matter in which I have taken a special interest during the year, namely, the strengthening o f Bar Associations. It is said that a chain is as strong as its weakest link and I think it is true to say that the effectiveness of the work of the Council of this Society is deter­ mined to a great extent by the support and help which it receives from local Bar Associations. Bar Associations can be the backbone o f our profession. I f these Associations are strong and active the pro­ fession can resist pressure that may be brought on it no matter from what quarter. Weak Associations can leave us open to attacks. I would ask those of you who may read this speech in the Annual Report to read between the lines o f this statement. I am glad to say that there has been a strengthening in the position o f Bar Associations in the last twelve months. Existing Associations have improved their organisations, whilst in parts of the country where Bar Associations have not existed up to this new ones have been formed. Bar Associations can deal with many matters promptly on the spot which if otherwise referred to the Council of their Society may somewhat lose effect by the passage o f time. Direct local discipline is more effective than discipline by remote control and enables you to stamp out locally abuses which some members of the public attempt to perpetrate on the profession. Again I would ask you to strengthen your local Bar Associations in every way possible and to continue to send to the Council your suggestions for the improvement o f the affairs o f the Society as a whole.” The motion for the adoption o f the Report was seconded by Mr. Niall S. Gaffney, Vice-President. After Mr. T. D. McLoughlin, Desmond Moran and Desmond R. Counahan had spoken to it the motion for the adoption of the report was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr. Henry St. J. Blake proposed and Mr. Patrick R. Boyd seconded the adoption of the following motion:—“ That the following members of the Society be appointed as the Society’ s representatives on the Nomination Committee for the Cultural and