The Gazette 1975

erally we have been seeking a review of the costs sys- tem. In 1968 and prior to that time we had long dis- cussions with the Department of Justice with a view to establishing a Central Cost Committee. Th e discus- sions in this respect were of course overtaken by an enlargement of the powers of the National Prices Commission. We would indeed welcome a review of our fees in general, if for no reason other than, to allay the apparent public concern which seems unfounded and is based on genqral comment rather than on any true analysis of the reasonableness or otherwise of our remuneration. Part of the service which we offer may well be out of the reach of many people. It follows that a system of legal aid in civil and criminal matters is absolutely essential if our services are to be made available to all people in the community. As a matter of tradition our profession has provided for years a full service to all members of the community, often at the expense of the individual practitioner, but the stage is being reached where, as it is unremunerative our profession are finding it dfficult to carry this burden and this has inevitably left our profession open to criticism. May I remind you that our profession always will be held, in high regard by the public in general. None- theless we must all in our own way, do all we can to honour the public trust which is placed in our pro- fession, to the best of our respective abilities and to keep As new members I would exhort you to play your part in the field of criminal work, particularly work coming within the ambit of the criminal legal aid scheme. To obtain experience on the criminal side of District Court work is an essential part of your train- ing and the experience gained in the District Court in both criminal and civil cases will lay a solid found- ation for your future progress in the profession. I feel that a greater committment from all members of our profession is required in relation to the criminal legal aid scheme. I hope that when the problems which have existed are ironed out that the scheme will be availed of more freely and fully by the public and that we will provide for them the service which they are entitled to obtain. The Minister for Justice has agreed to set up a Committee to examine the present scheme and we would hope that this examination would commence shortly so that .any problems which exist can be clear- ed up quickly. It is essential also that you take part in the activities of our Society in becoming members of a Bar Associat- ion and not only becoming members, but playing an active role in the work of a Bar Association. It is im- portant that you express your views on all matters of interest to the Society, that you take part in the affairs of the Young Solicitors Society in keeping up their good work, in continuing your involvement in the Free Legal Aid Centres and a general deep interest in the affairs of our Society which will ensure that we are genuinely seen to be conscious of the general pub- lic need, but that it should be seen that we are so con- scious. .196

to your client, of many of the letters which we are obliged to write from time to time to expedite mat- ters, which have inevitably become bogged down. By now the public may be tired of hearing the word "delay" used in relation to the legal system and in particular to our profession. I felt obliged in Westport to comment on the delays inherent in the present staffing of the Land Registry, a matter which was also raised by way of a question in the Dail in February, the delays in other public offices which have become notorious, this is not essentially due to any fault of the staff engaged in these offices, but rather by reason of the inherent problems which exist in the Depart- ments in question. I am glad to say that there are con- tinuous meetings between the representatives of our Society and the Departments involved, all with a view to improving the position, and in an endeavour to solve the existing problems. We feel however that it is unfair that the entire blame in this regard, should, by reason of the understandable irritation and frustration of the public, be placed on our shoulders. Delay be- gets delay and nothing causes greater irritation and frustration to the public in general, than an apparent inability in the system, to carry out the work which they entrust to the legal profession to be performed quickly and to their satisfaction. The increases in com- plaints which the Society have received over the past two years results from the apparent breakdown in the Land Registry system and the very long delays which have existed and continued to exist in the Estate Duty Office and the officials of the Revenue Commissioners and of Valuation. Some time ago I felt obliged to comment on delays which are occurring in some of our Courts. The pressure on our Courts will, I am certain, increase in the next few days and unless the system is prepared to provide sufficient Judges and Court ac- commodation, to enable an efficient and business-like dispatch of the work to be carried out the system will fall into greater disrepute with the public generally. Until these problems are dealt with, I am afraid it is inevitable that we will continue to receive in the Soc- iety a large number of complaints not caused by us and which would be remedied if there were a greater measure of speed and efficiency in the public areas referred to. There appears to be an urgent need for the appointment of at least one further Judge to the Circuit Court in Dublin. On the question of costs and remuneration, out profession is reaching a point where the cdSt of pro- viding a service for all members of the community is out of reach of a large section of the community at present. People who are unable to afford the cost of the service provided by the legal profession, under- standably complain about what they refer to as "un- reasonable or excessive charges". They concentrate on specific areas of our remuneration to indicate that our remuneration is too high, but some of the critics in this respect do not appear to have spent any time in costing work involved on the basis of reasonable re- muneration. The Society has been surveying this area very thoroughly during the past year or two on a time costing basis which is the only true basis on which the reasonable cost of any service can be ascertained. Gen-