The Gazette 1977

GAZETTE

OCTOBER- 1977

16.1 The services provided by the Library in the Four Courts have been expanded within the limits of the space available. Efforts continue to be made to increase the number of copies of students' textbooks to cope with the expanded number of students. The invaluable shelf space in the basement was withdrawn to make way for consultation rooms, and no corresponding space elsewhere has been provided. This problem can only be resolved by the erection of shelves in consultation rooms. . 16.2 New editions of standard legal textbooks and issues of leading legal periodicals have been acquired. It is hoped to provide a full list in the November Gazette. 16.3 Mrs. Caroline Pfeifer successfully re-classified according to the Dewey Classification System the textbooks in the Library in August and September. The Library building in Blackhall Place is not yet completed but it is understood that the Library will move there in the Spring of 1978. Many members seem to favour the maintenance of a skeleton library service in the Four Courts. 16.4 The total amount spent on the purchase of books for the year ending 30th April, 1977 was £3,837 and on the purchase of periodicals was £677.30. The total amount spent on binding was £573.53. The efTect of inflation is shown, when the corresponding amounts in the previous year in respect of books were £3,310, periodicals £418, and binding £583, making a total of £4,311. Due to their high cost, the need for libraries to provide essential books is more necessary than ever, as it is becoming ever more difficult for practitioners to purchase them. 16.6 The legal publications of the European Communities, consisting of the daily Legislation and Information Sections of the Journal, the Bulletin, the Annual Report of the Council, the bound and loose copies of the Judgments of the Court, as well as the Legal Bibliography, and the National Decisions concerning Community Law have been received. For comparative purposes, the office of the European Court in Luxembourg is sending free the French text of the judgments. The French Conseil d'Etat has continued to send a very useful summary of its decisions. Unfortunately the Council of Europe failed to provide most of the publications which it had promised, but Mr. Kiernan, the Irish member of the European Commission, is expected to successfully overcome this. 16.7 The Librarian thanks the Council for giving him the opportunity of attending the valuable 50th Conference of the International Federation of Library Associations, which was held in Brussels from 2nd to 10th September. He wishes to express his sincere thanks to his Assistant Librarian, Margaret Byrne, whose unfailing aid, courtesy, and efficiency were at all times invaluable to him. He also wishes to thank the Society of Young Solicitors for kindly inviting him and his wife to their Seminars, in Tralee, in April, which he was unable to attend due to illness, and in Sligo in October. 17.1 In the early part of this year the Report of the National Prices Commission on remuneration was issued and the Report was circulated to all members of the profession. Comment in relation to the Report was circulated to the media and was published. 17.2 In accordance with the recommendations of the National Prices Commission application was then made to the Supreme Court Rules Committee, to the Land Registration Rules Committee and to the other appropriate Committees for increases in fees to the extent recommended by the Prices Commission. were studied in detail by the Society's Committee, who also sought comment from Mr. A. Somerville, Lecturer in Economics, Trinity College, and from the Society's Consultants, Messrs. Coopers A Lybrand. Consequent on the full detailed consideration given to the Report from the Prices Commission, the Committee in May last made further detailed submissions to the Prices Commission which related to many fundamental factors which, in the view of the Committee, the Commission overlooked in arriving at its conclusions and recommendations. In particular, the Commission's failure to deal with criminal legal aid costs, and the unsatisfactory position in the criminal legal aid scheme were referred to and highlighted. 17.3 The recommendations of Professor Lees and the comment of the Prices Commission in its Report 17.4 The problems arising in relation to the criminal legal aid scheme have been dealt with and a more satisfactory end result has meanwhile been achieved. The Commission has not yet commented upon the Society's submissions, but an early response from the Commission is anticipated. 17.5 In addition, application has been made to the Commission for further increases in remuneration to cover the period which has elapsed since the first submission was made and in relation to the present application for further increases in fees a questionnaire issued some time ago from Messrs. Coopers & Lybrand, seeking up-to-date information, which is absolutely essential for the purpose of justifying the application made for further increases in remuneration. There has been a good response from the profession but the Committee now asks all colleagues who have not yet completed and returned the questionnaire, to do so immediately, so that the information can be processed and submitted to the Prices Commission as soon as possible. Unfortunately office expenses are continuing to increase at a rapid pace and hence, it is absolutely essential to have the application for further increases processed as quickly as that can be achieved, otherwise remuneration in our profession will again lag far behind current remuneration in every other walk of life.

LIBRARY REPORT

Colum Gavan Duffy

Librarian

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Colum Gavan Duffy, Librarian and Editor of the Gazette

COSTS COMMITTEE

William A. Osborne

Chairman

Denis J. Bergin Thomas Callan Laurence Cullen John J. Dockrell Dominick Reams William D. McEvoy Gerald J. Moloney Robert Pierse John Rochford Raymond M. Walker

William A. Osborne, Chairman

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