The Gazette 1977

GAZETTE

OCTOBER 1977

11.7 The transfer to King's Hospital, Blackhall Place, was a milestone in the Society's development and perhaps in the future Blackhall Place could be used to better advantage from the point of view of Public Relations by having it brought before the public in many different ways related to the fact of course that it now is the Solicitors Apprentices and the Profession's real home. 11.8 Good relations were maintained with the Public Service who have such a part to play in relation to the competent and expenditious servicing of all the various operations that Solicitors perform on behalf of their clients. It is indeed in this area that most good can be done to bring a better image to the profession having regard to delays, frustrations and unnecessary communications which from time to time occur in transactions with this branch of the Government. 11.9 Again the Director General and the administration staff give every assistance in dealing with complaints and comments and made available to the Public Relations Committee all the necessary information and material to cover such situations that arose from time to time, during the year. 11.10 In Public Relations one must always look at the commercial and the human elements and perhaps it is in the latter that our Public Relations can be advanced by a more practical personal application in a conscientious manner in each and every one of our relationships with our clients. Justifiable criticism in some individual cases has come from the Public, which does reflect the general overall standing of Solicitors in the Community. This criticism should be dealt with by not being hesitant in advising our fellow professionals and by endeavouring to assist many of them in keeping up a proper standard of service and conduct even by helpful criticism if necessary. 11.11 During the year, the good relationship with the English, Scottish, Northern Ireland and E.E.C. legal associations were continued on a Professional and social basis. The Public relations of the Society were very much advanced by the continued contact by the President and Director General by travelling to the Bar Associations throughout the country. Added to this was the meeting in Dublin of Members of the Council with the Presidents and Secretaries of all Bar Associations where a full descussion took place on the many problems raised. This is to be an annual event. 11.12 To the present members of the Committee and to last year's Chairman, Walter Beatty, there is due a sincere thanks for all the thought, time and effort which they gave. Above all from a Public Relations aspect the opportunity cannot be allowed to pass without an expression of appreciation to the President who, during the year, in every way, carried the Office to the Public with the true sense of what the profession means to Society, but above all in his sacrifice and unselfishness in putting such Office before his personal ambition. For his total commitment to creating a proper Public Relations image on behalf of the Profession with the Public, he cannot be too highly praised. 12.1 This year has been one of great achievement for the Premises Committee. In April the work of reconstruction and alteration to the centre block was completed and the Director-General with the entire administrative staff went into occupation of the offices in Blackhall Place during the Easter Vacation. It must be said that the departure from the Solicitors' Buildings in the Four Courts was a remarkable achievement and went without a hitch. For this, tribute must be paid to the Director-General, the staff and all concerned for their efforts. 12.2 As members are aware the entire administration of the Society is now being carried on at Blackhall Place. The consultation rooms are in constant demand as are some other areas of the centre block, for meetings and social functions. It has been a great pleasure for the Premises Committee to welcome so many of our colleagues as well as members of the Judiciary and the Bar to Blackhall Place. Indeed, the praise which has been given to the work already carried out there has been most gratifying to the Committee. ready for use by March, 1978. In this part of the building will be located the Members' lounge, bar and restaurant, as well as the library, lecture theatre, seminar rooms, students' restaurant and bar. Again, many members will have seen this section of the building during recent visits. A feature of the Members' lounge is the delightful gallery which in fact is one of the very few additions made to the existing building. It will be remembered that in response to the request of Members at the Half-Yearly meeting in Wexford this year, a decision was taken by the Council to proceed with the provision of five bedrooms in the Northern wing. These rooms will be ready for use in early December. It is hoped that this facility will be fully availed of by Members. 12.4 In July, negotiations with the Bar Council were finalised, for the sale to it of the first and second floors of the Solicitors' Buildings, in the Four Courts. It is hoped that this sale will be completed before the end of this year. The Society will be retaining the Hall Floor and basement of the Buildings for consultation rooms and the copying and duplicating service presently maintained there. It is intended also to provide a reference library for the use of members during term. Some alterations are envisaged on the Hall Floor to provide for more consultation and arbitration rooms. 12.5 During this year, as in the previous one, the members of this committee have been unstinting in their efforts to discharge the very heavy responsibility which has been entrusted to them by the Council. In this they have been gready assisted by our Consultants, Mr. Terence Nolan and his Assistant Mr. Leonard Morgan of Messrs. Nolan and Quinlan, Architects, Mr. Tom D'Arcy, Thomas D'Arcy SL Co., Quantity Surveyors, Mr. Joe Tierney and Mr. Michael Callan of J. Tierney & Co., Consultant Engineers. A special word of thanks must be given to our Clerk-of Works, Mr. Reburn for his unfailing co-operation at all times. The Committee wishes also to express its appreciation to Mr. Paddy Doyle, foreman of G. & T. Crampton Ltd., the Contractors, for the wonderful team-spirit shown by all involved in this challenging task. 12.6 The Committee looks forward to the continued support and encouragement of the members of the Society in their efforts to make this undertaking an outstanding success and something of which future members of the profession will be proud. 12.3 Work on the Students' and Members' wing is almost completed. It is expected that this area will be

PREMISES COMMITTEE

Moya Quinlan Chairman

Gerald Hickey Thomas Jackson Gerald J. Moloney Patrick C. Moore Patrick F. O'Donnell William A. Osborne Peter D. M. Prentice

Mrs. Moya Quinlan, Chairman

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