The Gazette 1975

Why we need a Common Market Library and Conference Centre

The foremost obstacle has been the shortage of man- power and of resources. National experience indicates the need to provide adequate research and back-up facilities on a comprehensive basis for those who repre- sent Irish interests within the European Communities. There is an urgent need for a central library devoted to the specialist areas of study of the Common Market. If this library is not soon provided, various interested parties (such as the legal professions, the public service, Parliamentarians and members of the Economic and Social Committee) will be obliged to establish their own inadequate information and research facilities. This latter course is a real possibility, as is shown by the failure of the Irish interests in Brussels to establish a common headquarters with appropriate facilities. We need a library which meets the following speci- fications : (1) It is a repository of official Community documents. (2) It contains a selection of books, journals and papers on Community and allied topics. (3) It possesses an effective staff of researchers and translators. It is important, in my view, that this library be pro- vided by the Government, in order to expedite estab- lishment and in order to conserve the slender resources of the various bodies. The library should have a central city location, with a close proximity to Iveagh House, Leinster House, and the proposed Institute for Inter- national Relations. Newman House, in St. Stephen's Green, would be an ideal centre for the library. Dublin must be one of the few Community capitals which does not possess an official conference centre, with facilities for both Committee and Parliamentary meetings. There is an urgent need for such a conference centre. In 1975 Ireland will chair all E.E.C. Committees; presumably some sessions of these Committees will be

held in Dublin. The Council of Ireland will, in time, hold some of its meetings in Dublin. An official conference centre requires, inter alia, the following : (1) A number of committee rooms, with facilities for interpreters. (2) A chamber for meetings of a parliamentary nature. (3) Catering facilities and administrative offices. Again, the location of this conference centre is impor- tant. It should be in the city centre area with easy access to the Oireachtas, Government d epartments, hotels, universities and diplomatic missions. Two possible locations spring to mi nd: (1) the College of Science in Merrion Street, (2) the old Parlia- ment House in College Green. (1) The College of Science has immediate proximity to Leinster House and to Government buildings. How- ever, this very proximity might be undesirable for poli- tical and security reasons : it could be inappropriate for a body (such as the Council of Ministers) which exer- cises authority over the national Parliament to sit in the same building. (2) The Bank of Ireland has removed its adminis- trative headquarters to Baggot Street; it could relocate its banking business elsewhere in College Green and Dame Street, without too much difficulty. For historical reasons, the oldest Parliament House in Europe would be a fitting location for an official conference centre— it is my ambition to see the Council of Ireland sitting in the old House of Lords. Action is urgently needed to establish both a Euro- pean Community library and an official conference centre. With the use of flair and imagination (and with a little help from the Minister for Finance) institutions which are responsive to our needs and which add to our national dignity could be established.

Buying and Selling a House The Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute have commented to the Society that wording in the Society's leaflet suggests that Solicitors hold them- selves out as valuers. The Institute points out that the art of valuing is a specialised field with many variations that can only be dealt with adequately by experienced wholetime valuers.

a Solicitor ordinarily, among other matter, could give preliminary expressions of value of property but was not intended to suggested that valuing is in the province of a Solicitor. Most solicitors try to avoid expressions of value and the Committee would not like to feel that the leaflet would encourage Solicitors further into v this sphere of action.

The Committee which issued the leaflet agrees with the Institute. The leaflet was intended to suggest that

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