The Gazette 1995

GAZETTE

M AR CH 1995

new judges would be done "taking into account proposals in the Bill as it now stands." It was also stated in the article that the Minister for Justice said "I have had a series of meetings with the Bar Council and the Law Society and I have been listening to some of their criticisms of the Bill and the workability of the Bill." She was preparing a memorandum for Government based on that review she explained. She went on to say "it is possible that there will be changes in the Bill as it was presented to the Dail before Christmas." An article on 15 March 1995 was printed on the front page of the Evening Press with a headline 'Crime compo for all urged'. The article stated that the Government today faced demands to reintroduce criminal injury compensation for victims of the public after it was revealed that Gardai have received £ 10.7m in compensation awards. The article stated "the solicitors' body and victims' support representatives urged that there should be compensation for all citizens after figures were released showing that over 600 Gardai were compensated over the past three years." "It is a pity that the injuries suffered by ordinary citizens are not also recognised," said the Chairman of the Law Society Criminal Law Committee, James MacGuill. An article was published in the Evening Herald on 15 March 1995 under the headline 'Minister to speed up court hearings'. The article reported that court cases will be dealt with more quickly under laws being drawn up by Justice Minister Nora Owen. It was reported that a new Criminal Justice Bill will be introduced to deal with court procedures which will reduce the number of remands and adjournments in court cases. It was reported that the Minister said she is considering extending remand periods and allowing remand hearings to be held at a court near prisons where 102 Criminal injury compensation 'Minister to speed up court hearings'

accused people are being held. "The delays in our courts are totally unacceptable" she added.

sentence in the X case there have been calls forjudges to have training. In the Irish Independent on 22 March 1995 under the heading 'Womens group in campaign for judges' college'. It was stated that Justice Minister Nora Owen is to study plans for a judges training college aimed at ensuring greater consistency in decisions handed down from the bench. It was reported in the Irish Press on 22 March 1995 that judiciary must stay informed according to Minister for Justice Nora Owen. The publishing of the Abortion Information Bill led to strong media coverage during the month of March. In an article on the front page of the Irish Independent on 23 March 1995 it was stated that "Legal Team to Argue Unborn case". The article stated that a separate legal team would represent the interests of the unborn in a Supreme Court hearing on the constitutionality of the Abortion Information Bill. In what is understood to be an unprecedented move, Chief Justice Liam Hamilton has árppointed two legal teams to argue against the State in the hearing - one for the unborn, the other for the mother. It was stated that the challenge will open in the Supreme Court on 4 April and is expected to last four days. The team representing the rights of the unborn will be led by Law Society President Paddy Glynn, assisted by Ralph Sutton, Peter Kelly and Mary Irvine. On the front page of the Irish Times on the same day, 23 March 1995, it was stated under the heading 'Supreme Court hearing on Bill in April'. It was reported that "arguing against the constitutionality of the Bill on the right to life of the unborn are Mr. Ralph Sutton SC, Mr. Peter Kelly Abortion Information Bill

Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994

An article was published in The Phoenix on 17 March 1995 headed 'Legal Eagles' concerning the Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1994. The article stated that although the Solicitors (Amendment) Act, 1994 came into effect on 4 November last, it has not necessarily had serious negative implications for the country's 4,000 solicitors. The article went on to say that many welcomed the Bill, since it simply made many of their modern business practices into statutory regulations. It was stated that "It is generally accepted that it was a good Act, it takes steps to protect the client, it will do much to enhance the reputation of solicitors in the eyes of the public and it will make roguery in the legal profession virtually impossible." The article continued "to this end, under Sections 8 and 9 of the Act, new grounds of complaints against solicitors have been introduced." The article stated that a spokesperson for the Law Society stated that "the Act provides for the investigation by the Society of complaints received from clients of the solicitor or from any persons on behalf of such clients, that the legal services provided were inadequate in a material respect and were not of the quality that could be reasonably expected of the solicitor or firm of solicitors." The article also referred to Section 68 of the Act where solicitors must now provide fully detailed itemised bills for their work, giving precise details to their client of where their money has been spent. The article interviewed various solicitors and their views of the Act. Overall the article was a positive one for solicitors. Call for judges to have training After the handing down of the

SC, and Ms. Mary Irvine. The solicitor is Mr. Patrick Glynn, President of the Law Society."

Catherine Dolan

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