The Gazette 1964/67

notice that the Commissioner on Higher Education wished to meet representatives of your Council presumably to discuss the suggestions and recom– mendations already referred to. In my next report accordingly, I will be able to tell you the result of that interview. LEGAL AID Your Council has had meetings with the Depart– ment in connection with the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act of 1962 and made it clear that it will co– operate as far as possible in any satisfactory scheme which may be approved. The Department suggested that in order to assist in the introduction of the scheme the solicitors concerned should accept reduced fees and a scale was submitted to your Council. This scale was considered very fully but was found to be unacceptable. However, in an endeavour to meet the Department and to facilitate all persons concerned your Council submitted their suggestions which represent substantially less than the fees which they consider the solicitors concerned should be paid. They notified the Department that they would be prepared to recommend this scale to their members for a trial period of one year on the definite understanding that at the end of that period the scale would be reviewed and increased to a realistic figure. It should be mentioned that at the time your Council submitted their final scale the 9th round wage increase had not taken place nor were they aware of the increase in postage and telephone charges which were subsequently announced. Your Council has not yet heard from the Department since submitting its final suggestions. CIRCUIT COURT COSTS Some years ago your Council raised the question of a new scale for circuit court costs. A scale was ap– proved by the Rules Committee and sent to the Department of Justice. The Minister, however, felt unable to agree to the scale submitted. With the consent of the Rules Committee your Council then entered into direct consultations and negotiations with the Minister regarding the amount of the increases to be allowed. The Minister made it clear that he did not wish to continue the principle of scales of costs in certain jurisdictions being linked to the scales applicable to the High Court. Numerous interviews and consultations with the Department ensued and very recently your Council notified the Department of its acceptance of the final terms which had been provisionally agreed. The fact that final agreement seems now to be in sight is largely due to the work and co-operation of the Minister and his officials and to my predecessor Mr. Lanigan, to all 5

Council hopes that the new Handbook commends itself to the profession, and in so far as the Law Directory for 1964 is concerned, your Council will welcome any suggestions for improvement or amendment at a later date. SOLICITORS' BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION I attended the centenary meeting of the Solicitors' Benevolent Association in January of this year. I was very glad indeed to learn that the necessary money had been forthcoming for the new Centenary Annuity. The work of the Society is most important and there is no reason why every member of our profession should not be a member of the Solicitors' Benevolent Association. The annual subscription is still only one pound and that sum must certainly be within the reach of all of us. I renew the appeal made by successive Presidents of our Society to every solicitor, young or old, to send his subscription now to the Secretary of the Solicitors' Benevolent Association. BAR ASSOCIATIONS Although I have been in office for only five months, I have realised more than ever how important it is to have active and effective local Bar Associations. Such Associations tend to increase harmony and goodwill amongst the members and they deal very efficiently with questions which arise from time to time amongst their members and thereby save a considerable number of matters being referred to your Council for a decision. I do not want you to think that your Council wishes to rid itself of its responsibilities, but there are numerous cases where members of the profession prefer to have any differences or difficulties ruled on by a local body rather than to have the matter referred to your Council here in Dublin. There are a few counties which lack a local bar association and I think that this is most regrettable. Any one active man with initiative could, I feel confident, organise a local bar association and I have no doubt that once such an association had been formed it would meet with general approval and would help to strengthen our profession. LEGAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING On the zist July, 1961 your Council sent a long memorandum on legal education and training to the Commission on Higher Education for consideration. In that memorandum your Council stressed three main defects of the present system and made five general recommendations and six specific recom– mendations. The commission has not yet made a report but within the past few days your Council received a