This third quar ter repor t provides members with a high-level over view of work carried out on their behalf during April-June 2016 Some of the highlights include the ver y successful conference that took place in Kilkenny in April, which generated an enormous amount of media coverage for a topic that has widespread interest The estimated reach of our total media coverage over the last quar ter is 1 98 million – a huge credit to the team in the Communications & Policy Depar tment overseen by Shirley Coulter
The enhanced Professional Practice Committee (PPC) Enquiries
Advisor y Ser vice continues to receive ver y positive feedback from members, as demonstrated in this repor t under 'Regulation'
I am par ticularly pleased that the Specialist Bar Associations are now reaping the benefits of the resource investment that has occurred since Januar y of this year The assistance provided in the organisation of their events and the harnessing of public relations oppor tunities has been well received by the Chairs of each Association and their committees
The Young Bar Committee continues to go from strength to strength, and is making steady progress in promoting the skills of young barristers in under taking work in the area of discover y and research
Two building projects will commence in August: the development of the top floor of the Sheds into an appropriate CPD space; and, the development of the vacant offices on the ground floor in 158/159 Church Street to provide additional seating for members
This is the final repor t in this legal year, providing an over view of our progress in implementing the three-year Strategic Plan
Council, its committees and the staff, working together in par tnership, have made great progress throughout the year in improving ser vices and suppor ting members in their day-to-day practice
Wishing you all a safe and restful long vacation.
Ciara Murphy Director July 2016
SPOTLIGHT ON… MEDIA COVERAGE FOR
One of the five strategic objectives of Council of The Bar of Ireland is to proactively represent and promote members to a wide stakeholder network, including the general public , Government, the business community, the voluntary sector and the media, as independent and professional advocates, ensuring access to justice and upholding the rule of law, and to ensure The Bar of Ireland’s reputation as an exper t voice on legal matters through the production of policy papers and events on a range of relevant topics.
A detailed glance at the media coverage achieved in this last quarter demonstrates an increase in the number of public relations and media engagements, all of which feed into the objective of representing and promoting the profession
The overall coverage report from April 2016 saw 54 proactive pieces of coverage for The Bar of Ireland
Seven stories were covered nationally The stories covered were as follows (please note that they have been arranged in order of most covered to least covered):
n Trial by Media Conference 2016;
n report finds most female barristers experience sexism;
n insurance premium debate;
n Kerry barrister chosen to work on Innocence Project in the US;
n barristers seek reversal of fee cuts; and,
n The Professional, Regulatory and Disciplinary Bar Association of Ireland’s Annual Conference
The coverage was featured on all media platforms:
n press – 17 features;
n television – 1 feature;
n radio – 14 features; and,
n online – 22 features
Some 34 of the 54 features were on national news outlets, including The Irish Times, Irish Independent, The Sunday Times, Newstalk, Today FM and RTÉ
The estimated total audience reach for the period April-June 2016 is: 1 98 million
THE BAR OF IRELAND
FIVE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
To achieve its mission, Council of The Bar of Ireland has identified five key strategic objectives within which our activities will be prioritised and where we will invest resources over the next three years:
1. LIBRARY SERVICES
To provide a library and information service to facilitate total, full-spectrum provision of relevant legal information and knowledge for members of the Law Library in the most readily accessible and user-friendly manner, to enable them to deliver their professional services and expertise to clients
2 MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT AND BENEFITS
To ensure that members can work efficiently and effectively, and derive clear benefit from our investment in infrastructure, facilities and services
3 PROMOTION, POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
To proactively represent and promote members of The Bar of Ireland to a wide stakeholder network, including the general public, Government, business community, voluntary sector and media, as independent and professional advocates ensuring access to justice and upholding the rule of law, and to ensure the independent Bar’s reputation as an expert voice on legal matters through the production of policy papers and events on a range of relevant topics
4 EDUCATION AND TRAINING
To ensure that members are aware of the importance, objective and requirement for obtaining continuing professional development throughout their career, to provide access for members to a wide range of informative training and education events and resources, and to promote the profession to those who are considering embarking on a career as a practising barrister
5.
REGULATION
To enhance and advance regulation of barristers for the benefit of the public, and to ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct of The Bar of Ireland in the context of the principles of better regulation for the benefit of all
MEMBERSHIP OF THE LAW LIBRARY
Previous repor ts have looked at a general overview of the membership from the point of view of senior counsel versus junior counsel, male versus female, rate of members leaving the Law Library, and those availing of leave of absence In this edition, we set out information in terms of length of membership and the breakdown of country versus Dublin members
1. LIBRARY SERVICES
A new future for JILL
The Bar of Ireland and Justis Publishing launched Justis Irish Caselaw
on the evening of June 7, 2016, in Hanley at the Bar This event was attended by invited guests, including Chairman of Council of the Bar of Ireland, David Barniville SC, and Masoud Gerami, Managing Director of Justis Publishing
The event marked the culmination of many months of negotiation between The Bar of Ireland and Justis Publishing, and also recognises a significant date in the history and development of the JILL (Judgments in The Law Library) database The JILL database began life in print, whereby copies of the unrepor ted judgments were compiled into what became known as the Red Volumes In 1983 a decision was taken by The Bar of Ireland to automate the process when no other similar electronic resource existed The JILL has been hosted by Justis Publishing since 2005 for exclusive use of members of The Bar of Ireland
As legislation and case law became more universally accessible, the competitive advantage of the JILL decreased In order to ensure the continued development of the JILL, an agreement was reached on January 1, 2016, between The Bar of Ireland and Justis Publishing to combine the JILL archive of unrepor ted judgments with the Justis database of Irish cases, JIC This new product will form one comprehensive, searchable database of Irish case law
This new future for the JILL represents the next step in the forward thinking and vision of the future that began in the Law Library in the 1980s and continues under the current leadership of The Bar of Ireland today
New information and research skills drop-in room
To promote awareness of Library resources and to enhance members’ research skills, a new training room adjacent to the Information Desk in the New Library, Four Courts, has opened on a trial basis Members may drop in for information on and assistance with Library resources Information and training is provided on all our resources, including Barrister’s Desktop, Justis, Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomsbury, and other applications Members may avail of assistance directly relevant to their specific needs as well as requesting more broad-based training Training will continue to be provided at the Library training clinics held during term in the Distillery Building, the Four Courts and the CCJ. With this new development we hope to enhance the Library ’s training offering by providing increased regularity and a more suitable location for one-to-one training
Of fice move
In order to heighten its presence in the Four Cour ts, several members of the Library & Information Service team have moved to the offices recently vacated by the Accounts and Administration Depar tments on the third floor of the Four Cour ts Previously, the majority of the administrative duties, along with the management and direction of the Library Service, took place from the Library offices in the Distillery Building Basing members of the Library team in both the Distillery Building and the Four Cour ts allows us to respond more effectively to members’ needs in either location In addition, this development gives us a more advantageous position in shaping future services
Pictured at the launch of Justis Irish Caselaw at Hanley at the Bar, were Masoud Gerami, Managing Director of Justis Publishing (left), and David Barniville SC, Chairman, Council of The Bar of Ireland
ENQUIRY DESKS
USER VISITS TO A LIBRARY DESK
QUERIES AT A LIBRARY DESK ITEMS ISSUED
DESK TRANSACTIONS
ITEMS CATALOGUED
OVERDUE FINE LETTERS ISSUED
INTER-LIBRARY LOANS ARRANGED
DIGITAL LIBRARY
BARRISTER’S DESKTOP VISITS ONLINE CATALOGUE VISITS DIGITAL COLLECTION VISITS
The Young Bar Committee held a very successful and well-attended CPD seminar on practice management in May 2016
The Committee has been proactive in leading the development of new guidelines for pupils and masters that will be published in time for the new intake in September 2016 In the region of 90 new pupils are expected to enter membership of the Law Library in the new legal year
A call for junior counsel available for research was issued to members and has been very well received The manner of publication of the information and promotion internally and externally will be decided in time for the new legal year
Suppor ting CSR initiatives
The Bar of Ireland is engaged in and a suppor ter of a wide range of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives During the last quar ter, a number of high profile activities were under taken:
Sponsorship of Community Law & Mediation free legal advice clinics
In June, The Bar of Ireland announced a three-year sponsorship of the free legal advice clinics run by Community Law & Mediation, a Coolock- and Limerick-based non-profit organisation, which works to reduce and remove barriers to the law The announcement follows a longstanding, informal tradition, which sees barristers providing pro bono services at Community Law & Mediation
Voluntary Assistance Scheme exhibits at The Wheel
The Voluntary Assistance Scheme (VAS) of The Bar of Ireland exhibited at The Wheel Conference Expo in May 2016 to raise awareness of the invaluable free legal advice and suppor t provided by the VAS
FREE LEGAL ADVICE CLINICS
announced by The Bar of Ireland SPONSORSHIP OF THE
The conference was attended by over 400 delegates from the charity and NGO sector, and VAS representatives spoke to the absolute majority of those present Most charities were represented at the highest levels in their organisations, including many CEOs, and the response to the VAS was overwhelmingly positive Over 50 charities signed up to a mailing list indicating their interest in par ticipating in the next 'Speaking for Ourselves' advocacy training to be held in the new legal year
Calcutta Run
A total of 114 members of the Bar took par t in the Calcutta run on May 21 Runners and walkers of all ages and fitness levels pounded the pavements of Dublin city centre for this fantastic event raising money in the process for GOAL and the Peter McVerry Trust
3. PROMOTION, POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
331,585 883,331 OF TRAFFIC WENT TO THE
SESSIONS
1. LOCATIONS FOR TRIALS OF PERSONAL INJURIES
2. APPOINTMENTS TO THE CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION TRIBUNAL
5. SUCCESSFUL VERDICT FOR 'TRIAL BY MEDIA' CONFERENCE
Successful verdict for Trial by Media Conference
Members of The Bar of Ireland travelled to Kilkenny in early April to enjoy a most engaging and thought-provoking conference on the theme of 'Trial by Media' The exceptional array of speakers kept an almost 200-strong audience of members of the Bar and media enthralled with a diverse range of practitioner and journalistic viewpoints on the topic from both home and abroad
David Barniville SC, Chairman, Council of The Bar of Ireland, gave the opening address to delegates, welcoming them to the conference in Lyrath Estate The first session, ‘Media in The Cour troom’, opened with Joshua Rozenberg QC delivering a talk on ‘The view from the press bench’, which was followed by Gordon Jackson QC spe why not?’ Michael O’Higgins SC completed the first half of Session 1 with a talk on ‘Media – the agenda and subtext of trial repor ting’ The first session was rounded out with a talk from John Carlin from his perspective on ‘The Trials of Oscar Pistorius’ Dearbhail McDonald delivered her talk on ‘Trials of the Media? Coverage of cour t proceedings: a case for the defence’ The session was closed with Colm Keena speaking on ‘Cour t repor ting on a small island’ The second session was entitled ‘Miscarriages of Justice – The Role of Lawyers and
6. NEW DISCOVERY COUNSEL DATABASE LAUNCHED
7. EXCLUSIVE MOBILE OFFER FOR THE BAR OF IRELAND MEMBERS
8. SUPREME COURT’S ECOURT PILOT GOES WITHOUT A GLITCH
9. COURT WAITING TIMES SURVEY – REQUEST FOR PAID VOLUNTEERS
10. JOB OPPORTUNITY – TEAM MEMBER – FINANCIAL SERVICES OMBUDSMAN
the Media’, and was opened by US Criminal Defence Attorney Cristi Charpentier speaking about the death penalty in ‘Guilty of murder, innocent of the death penalty? Evolving standards of decency and the influence of public discourse on the justice system and decision makers’ She was joined in this session by Seán Guerin SC speaking on ‘Public justice and publicity in miscarriage of justice cases’, and Shane Murphy SC with his talk on ‘Verdict and comment – the role of the media’, a talk about the Lindbergh Kidnapping
The topical theme of the Conference was reflected in the significant media attention received from Friday to Monday, April 8-11, with coverage across print, broadcast and social media, including a detailed repor t on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland and several ar ticles in The Irish Times, Irish Independent, The Sunday Times, thejournal ie, Sunday Business
‘Trial by Media’ speakers from left: Joshua Rozenberg QC; Gordon Jackson QC; Colm Keena; Dearbhail McDonald; John Carlin; and, Michael O’Higgins SC
277 NEW FOLLOWERS
123 TWEETS AVERAGE 6 RETWEETS PER DAY
3 NEW FOLLOWERS PER DAY
Post, and The Irish Sun There was also a significant amount of interaction on social media, with our #trialbymedia hashtag trending at number 8 on Twitter, reflecting the popularity of the topic
Four th Joint Nor th South Bar Councils Meeting
The Bar of Ireland and special guests were welcomed to the fourth joint North South Bar Councils meeting on Friday, June 24, 2016 Among the topics discussed at the meeting were the young Bar, education and training and equality at the Bar To mark the occasion, the Rt Hon Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore delivered a lecture on the subject of 'Common Law Constitutionalism: a Perspective on Protecting Rights', followed by drinks in the Members’ Room at the Royal Courts of Justice and dinner in the Atrium of the Ulster Museum Maurice Gaffney SC was honoured with a presentation in recognition of his long practice at the bar
Annual Chairman’s Dinner
The Bar of Ireland held its Annual Chairman’s Dinner on Thursday, June 20, in beautiful surroundings at the King’s Inns An esteemed audience of barristers, judges, solicitors, politicians and members of the media, including Chief Justice Mrs Susan Denham, President of the Cour t of Appeal The Hon. Mr Justice Sean Ryan, and Attorney General Ms Máire Whelan SC, were in attendance In his opening speech, the Chairman, David Barniville SC, highlighted the enactment of the Legal Services Regulation Act, and how the Bar is facing a very changed regulatory and professional landscape, equality at the Bar, assisting younger members, the links at home and internationally that the Bar has continued to develop and grow, and how the Bar’s voluntary assistance scheme (VAS) has gone from strength to strength
Policy and research
To date, the Policy and Research Working Group, supported by the Policy Department, has progressed initiatives under the following headings:
DPP submission
Discussions with the DPP and the Depar tment of Public Expenditure and Reform are ongoing in relation to the submission made in February 2016 A number of media outlets repor ted on the
6,016
PROFILE VIEWS
221 NEW VIEWS OF THE BAR OF IRELAND TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAMME VIDEO
424 NEW PROFILE VIEWS
submission made on behalf of members, which arose from the necessity to file a return on the lobbying register Overall, the media coverage was balanced
Reform of the cour ts system
A review of the operation of cour t lists was conducted over a two-week period in June as par t of a wider initiative to assess and improve the efficiencies of the legal system A survey questionnaire was developed and circulated to a number of junior practitioners who were assigned to various civil and criminal lists across the District Cour t, Circuit Cour t and High Cour t to engage with practitioners (barristers and solicitors), lay litigants and the cour ts service to gather information on the nature of applications before the Cour t The lists under review included bankruptcy, chancery, judicial review, non-jury, personal injury, personal insolvency and family law Analysis is currently being carried out by the Policy Depar tment, and findings will help to inform possible solutions to improve the efficiencies of the legal system and overall access to justice
Maurice Gaf fney SC and his wife Leonie attended the joint Council meeting of The Bar of Ireland and the Bar of Nor thern Ireland in June Maurice, who will turn 100 in October, was honoured at the meeting for his long years of service to the Bar
L I N K E D I N S TAT I S T I C S
2,526 FOLLOWERS 274 CLICKS ON CONTENT
Insurance costs and legal fees
72 LIKES ON CONTENT
20,432 IMPRESSIONS
MOST POPULAR WEB PAGES
A sub-committee of the Working Group was convened to discuss the increasing messaging coming from the insurance industry in relation to insurance premiums and legal costs Suppor ted by research under taken by the Policy Depar tment, David Barniville SC, Chairman, Council of The Bar of Ireland, issued a response in the June edition of The Bar Review (Volume 21, No 3), together with an opinion piece published in The Irish Times (May 26, 2016) in which he raised concerns as to the veracity of the insurance industry ’s claims He also expressed Council of The Bar of Ireland’s full suppor t of the establishment by the Depar tment of Finance of a working group to carry out a review of policy in this area A formal letter was written by the Director on behalf of Council of The Bar of Ireland to the Minister for Finance (April 26, 2016) requesting that Council of The Bar of Ireland be invited to par ticipate in any consultative process, a request that has been acceded to by the Depar tment
Ongoing research
Ongoing research is being carried out and formal policy positions developed on a number of other topical issues such as: periodic payment orders; whether there is a need for a public defender system; the operational costs of our legal system in comparison to other jurisdictions; the fairness, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of our civil and criminal legal aid schemes; and, greater suppor t and representation in legal proceedings for victims of crime.
Specialist Bar Associations
The Communications and Policy Depar tment is actively working with the following Associations, providing suppor t in the three main areas of secretariat suppor t, event management and policy development:
n Construction Bar Association (CBA);
n Employment Bar Association;
n Professional, Regulatory and Disciplinary Bar Association (PRDBA); and,
n Family Lawyers Association of Ireland
To date, this has involved regular attendance at committee meetings and the provision of suppor t in the organisation, administration and promotion of conferences and events, e g , the CBA Annual Construction Law Conference (April 22, 2016), the PRDBA Annual Conference ‘Professional Regulation in the Financial Sector’ (May 24, 2016), and the Family Lawyers Association Annual Conference and AGM (June 18, 2016) and its upcoming conference ‘Family Litigation Challenges – Judicial Perspectives’ (July 14, 2016) Suppor t is also being provided to the Employment Bar Association in the organisation and promotion of its upcoming conference in October Oppor tunities for publicity and media coverage can be facilitated through the Communications Depar tment and are being availed of by some of the Bar Associations The PRDBA’s Annual Conference in May was attended by Francesca Comyn, Legal Affairs Correspondent of the Sunday Business Post, leading to an ar ticle published in that newspaper ('Law Society pays out ¤800k in claims', May 29, 2016)
The Chairman s Dinner took place in June in the beautiful surroundings of The King’s Inns
4. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
IN APRIL 2016 A GROUP OF 11 INTERNATIONAL TRAINERS TRAVELLED TO DUBLIN TO ASSIST WITH OUR ADVANCED ADVOCACY TRAINING
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
It has been another busy quarter in education and training, with seminars on topics ranging from not coaching witnesses, to tort law, to negotiation In addition, we ran a highly successful, intensive advanced advocacy course for years two to seven The Green Street series of lectures continues to attract large audiences and the Specialist Bar Associations have been extremely active, with a number of breakfast briefings and full-day conferences
KEY STATISTICS
TOPICS INCLUDED MEDIATION, NEGOTIATION, CYBER LAW, TORT LAW, NOT COACHING WITNESSES, SOCIAL CONSCIENCE AND WELL-BEING, THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF BREXIT
New Practitioners’ Programme
Two New Practitioners Programme (NPP) seminars took place in this quarter: 'The golden rules of drafting' and 'Lay litigants' Following consultation with the Young Bar Committee, we are rearranging the order of the lectures for 2016-2017 and the timeliness of their delivery We are also adding some new topics to maximise the effectiveness of this programme
Green Street lectures
The Green Street Courthouse Lecture Series continues to draw a large audience in this fitting environment Michael L O’Higgins SC spoke on 'The Maamtrasna Murders' in April to a full courtroom There was standing room only for Michael McDowell SC’s lecture on 'The Trial of Roger Casement' Shane Murphy SC, the instigator of the Green Street Courthouse Lecture Series, continued the success of these lectures with his talk on 'Green Street 1941'
Advanced advocacy course
CPD seminars
We continue to strive to deliver a wide range of CPD seminars covering a myriad of legal areas In the months of April, May and June, CPD seminars included: the legal implications of Brexit; negotiation; mediation; tort law; not coaching witnesses; social conscience and well-being; and, cyber law All seminars are advertised through In Brief, on the CPD calendar in the members’ section, on posters on the noticeboards, and in the ‘What’s On This Week’ stands at the reception desks We also record most seminars and make them available to all members within the CPD section of the members’ section on our website
In April we held the latest advanced advocacy course, with 27 practitioners from years two to seven In addition, 11 volunteers from year one and 13 faculty members have been trained in the Hampel method of advocacy The course began with the arrival of 11 members of the International Advocacy Training Council on Wednesday, April 20, who offered a refresher course to our training faculty followed by two hours of case analysis, led by the Irish trainers, for participants.
On Sunday, April 24, the course moved to the King’s Inns for a full day of advocacy training using the case study we had analysed on the Wednesday Participants examined and cross-examined various witnesses in the case, and each short performance was videotaped and reviewed in order to improve their advocacy skills The courses have had extremely positive feedback and all of the trainers have confirmed that they learn as much as the participants The next advocacy course is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, September 29 and 30, for years eight and over
5. REGULATION THE PPC
ENQUIRIES IN 4 MEETINGS
Professional indemnity insurance compliance
Members will be aware that the Code of Conduct for the Bar of Ireland requires that:
“2 18 Barristers shall be insured at all times against claims based on professional negligence Barristers shall so insure to an extent which is reasonable having regard to the nature and extent of the risks which those barristers may incur in their practice "
The following char t shows who members are choosing to provide their insurance:
SUBMITTED
CARD T HIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE IN COMPLIANCE SINCE THE LAST QUARTER FROM 88%
The cost of annual premiums paid by members is represented through the following char t:
98 5% of CPD cards submitted
Continuing professional development (CPD) is the 100% commitment to the ongoing process of learning, and is the system we use to maintain, improve and broaden the knowledge and skill that a barrister needs to perform their professional duties throughout their professional life
Members were required to submit their CPD card for the period 2014/2015 by November 13, 2015 The final phase of communications inviting members to demonstrate their compliance with the CPD scheme, demonstrated through submission of a completed CPD card, has increased compliance since the last quar ter from 88% to 98 5%
WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY ABOUT THE PPC ENQUIRIES ADVISORY SERVICE
“IT WAS THE AVAILABILITY OF THE ADVICE RATHER THAN THE ADVICE ITSELF THAT WAS IMPORTANT.”
“IT IS AN IMPRESSIVELY RUN AND BENEFICIAL SERVICE FOR MEMBERS TO HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM.”
We are currently researching the development of our IT systems for the 2015/2016 requirement to cer tify that a member has obtained 10 CPD points in any year to make the compliance process easier for members to manage
PPC Enquiries Advisor y Ser vice
During the last quar ter, the Professional Practice Committee (PPC) responded to 41 routine enquiries during its four meetings
Using vir tual online meetings, the PPC responded immediately to nine urgent enquiries between meetings
Members are reminded that they are at all times responsible personally for their professional conduct, ethics and decisions
While the PPC aims to guide and assist, you must reach your own conclusion on what your professional obligations and ethics require of you in any par ticular situation. In the event of a complaint, however, you may find it easier to explain your actions if you have consulted relevant documents published by The Bar of Ireland and/or contacted the PPC , and if you can show how, in deciding what course of action to take, you have taken into account the content of those documents, and any views or advice received
The PPC has developed a rulings and decisions database, which it uses to publish its guidance and information, at: https://w w w lawlibrar y ie/secure/professional-practice-guidance -and-information aspx
The PPC may be contacted at: ppc@lawlibrar y ie
“THE REAL VALUE WAS THAT OF HAVING AN ASSESSMENT THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE PROCESS”.
“THE SPEED OF TURNAROUND WAS ALSO MUCH APPRECIATED.”
Legal Ser vices Regulation Act 2015
The June Council meeting made a decision to establish a Legal Ser vices Regulation Act (LSRA) Committee as a non-permanent Committee of Council to proactively action the tasks arising from the for thcoming commencement of the Act and establishment of the Legal Ser vices Regulator y Authority Its agenda will include, but will not be limited to:
n roll of practising barristers;
n Code of Conduct/Codes of Practice;
n consultation on legal par tnerships – their regulation, monitoring and operation;
n consultation on establishment, regulation, monitoring, operation and impact of multidisciplinar y practices;
n client monies;
n retention or removal of restrictions on a barrister receiving instructions in a contentious matter;
n admittance to practice;
n education and training (including ongoing training) arrangements in the State for legal practitioners, including the manner in which such education and training is provided;
n unification of the solicitors’ profession and the barristers’ profession; and
n professional indemnity insurance
It is expected that the establishment date for the LSRA will be October 1, 2016 following the appointment of the Authority.
RUNNING EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS
Council and committee meetings
During the period April to June 2016, a total of 40 Council and Committee meetings took place In addition, a significant number of sub-committee and working group meetings also took place
Staff appointments
A new Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), John Kane, was appointed and took up his position in early July 2016
Following a review of our IT services, John will now proceed to act upon each of the recommendations made in the report, which will deliver real improvements for members Christopher Cotter has been appointed as Communications and Digital Marketing Executive and will oversee ongoing improvements to our communications and digital marketing channels
Paula Corrigan has been appointed as Human Resources Manager and will support the development and delivery of the organisation¹s human resource strategy, workforce planning agenda and specific initiatives driven by members of the organisation
Review of financial performance for Q3
The consolidated net surplus recorded for The Bar of Ireland and related
entities, at ¤499k for Quarter 3 (Q3) of the 2015/2016 legal year, is 5 7% higher than last year and 45% higher than budget
The net surplus was better than expected due to a one-off refund by the Courts Service of ¤62k for heating overcharges over a nine-year period
Subscription income, at ¤2 11m, has shown a very slight improvement on budget due to a reduction in the number of members leaving – 76 members left in the nine months to June 30, 2016, compared to 109 who left in the nine months to June 2015 In addition, the number of members on leave of absence (LOA) fell by 18% to an average of 90 in Q3 this year compared to an average of 110 on LOA in Q3 last year. Overall expenditure in Q3, at ¤3 17m, is 5% less than budget, which is contributing to the improved surplus In addition to the aforementioned refund for heating overcharges, the fall in bank interest arising from the new property finance arrangement with AIB has largely contributed to this expenditure reduction
Year to date cash receipts from subscriptions, service charges and rents, at ¤11 7m, were 3% ahead of last year as payment compliance continues to improve. Subscription receipts, at ¤7.23m (4% higher than last year’s total of ¤6 97m), represent 84% of total subscriptions billed for the full year, an improvement from 80% last year
Budget approved for 2016/2017
The budget for the legal year 2016/2017 was reviewed, discussed and approved at the Council meeting held on June 20, 2016
The budget allows for additional investments in services to members, as well as retaining existing core services It also includes for the first time financial assistance to support the activities of the Specialist Bar Associations The improved level of stability of our finances enables the subscription rates to be held at current levels for 2016/2017, even taking into account the planned investment in services
Christopher Cotter, Communications and Digital Marketing Executive
Paula Corrigan, Human Resources Manager
John Kane, Director of Information and Communications Technology
