The Gazette 1977

GAZETTE

OCTOBER- 1977

19.1 A very encouraging response was received to the advertisements in the press indicating that the Society would be prepared to sponsor the publication of legal textbooks and commentaries. The Committee met monthly to examine the many proposals submitted. 19.2 Forthcoming publications include two books on Planning Law. Currently work is progressing on the following subjects: —Corporation Tax —Conveyancing —Company Law —An Office Manual for the particular guidance of staff with no legal experience. It is hoped that work will commence shortly on a revised edition of the Garda Siochana Guide. 19.3 During the year the Committee was happy to contribute a grant towards the publication of Alan Shatter's excellent book, Family Law in the Republic of Ireland, published by Wolfhound Press, Dublin. The President of the High Court introduced the book at a reception held by the Committee to mark the publication. 19.4 A revised edition of the Society's Handbook, incorporating the Society's Charter, the Bye-Laws of the Society, and the Regulations of the Council to-date, was published towards the end of the year. 19.5 In the area of Government Publications, the Committee is concerned about the non-availability of bound volumes of the Irish Statutes. It is endeavouring to discuss the re-printing of the Statutes with officials in the Stationery Office. 19.6 The Society's representatives on the incorporated Council of Law Reporting for Ireland, Peter Prentice, John Buckley, Thomas Jackson, and the Director General, participated fully in the work of the Council over the year. 19.7 I would like to thank the members of the Committee for their help during year and in particular, Mr. Desmond Moran, who attended some of our Meetings in a voluntary capacity and then kindly consented to join the Committee.

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

Walter Beatty

Chairman

Bruce St. John Blake John F. Buckley Michael W. Carrigan Garrett P. Gill Desmond J. Moran Donough O'Connor Michael V. O'Mahony

Walter Beatty, Chairman

20.1 The introduction by Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks of facilities for long term house purchase finance gave rise particularly in the case of the latter to certain difficulties in practice which caused concern to many of our members. In particular the form of undertaking required by Allied Irish Banks from solicitors to whose clients they afforded bridging facilities had several features which your Society's representatives found unacceptable. I am pleased to report that following negotiations with the Executive of the Bank and with their Law Agent, a revised form of undertaking and a new system of making such advances has been introduced. I would like to record your representatives' appreciation of the courtesy with which these representations were received by Allied Irish Banks. During these discussions we made reference to the Society's stated policy that in our view the systems whereby borrowers are bound to pay the lender's costs is not fair or reasonable in so far as it places a heavy burden of expense on a borrower at a time when he is least equipped to bear it. The Bank is sympathetic to the view and indicated that consideration is given, and will continue to be given, to the cost of borrowing in budgeting for the borrowing needs of individual borrowers. 20.2 This matter was also raised in discussions which we had with representatives of the A.C .C., and I am very pleased to report that they have agreed, at our request, to give an option in future to borrowers to add the handling charges to the amount of their loans to be paid oflT over the term of the borrowing. 20.3 Another matter of grave concern to our members has arisen during the year in relation to the computerization of the branch banking system. The technical term used to describe the process is "transit decimals". The effect of it is that any debit item to your account is back dated for one day and any credit item is deferred for two days. The result of this procedure is that an account which is never apparently overdrawn may still give rise to an interest charge and where substantial sums are involved the interest charge will also be substantial. 20.4 Our enquiries into the matter have led us to the conclusion that this matter can only be dealt with by the Irish Banks Standing Committee and we have recently submitted representations to that Committee in strong terms seeking to have the present procedures reviewed. We intend to continue to pursue this matter vigorously during the coming year.

LENDING INSTITUTIONS

Bruce St. John Blake

Chairman

Walter Beatty Joseph L. Dundon Gerald Hickey Michael P. Houlihan Charles R. M. Meredith Rory O'Donnell William A. Osborne

Bruce St. John Blake Chairman

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