President of the Law Society, President of the High Court, members of the judiciary and distinguished guests -
This is one of the truly delightful perks of Ministerial office. I can't remember who it was who described politics as "a cruel trade" but whoever it was missed out on occasions like this, when the Minister gets to be part of the collective celebration of individual achievement.
And an important achievement, at that.
The roll of parchment has a significance stretching back into history and forward into what I hope will be happy, productive and demanding careers.
It comes as a result of lot of hard work by very clever people.
But hidden behind all the brainpower and the hard work are families, parents and friends of those receiving their Parchments today. The cheerleaders and the cheerer-uppers. The support system and the safety net. Parents, friends and families are heavily represented here today. They're hugely welcome. And they deserve a round of applause all to themselves.
The Law Society is the force behind the professional formation of solicitors in this country. That benefits the administration of justice and of the community at large.
But of course, the Law Society does a lot more than train and educate solicitors.
It makes a major and continuing contribution, mirroring that of the Bar Council, to the modernisation and reform of the law in key areas of policy concern and to the enhancement of the legal system in its interaction with citizens. It is an influential and powerful body, representing some of the best thinking in Ireland. As Minister for Justice, I anticipate that I'll sometimes be so happy to see that thinking deployed, and sometimes I'll be so unhappy.
And that's as it should be, given the times that are in it.
The times that are in it are times of such great challenge and change that they're a bit reminiscent of Alice Through the Looking Glass. Remember when Alice was headed down the garden and the next thing the path sort of shook itself and landed her right back where she had come from?
The career path for many lawyers and other professionals, over the past few years, has behaved very like Alice's path.
This has been driven substantially by the downward cost pressures of the global economic crisis. It's great to see evidence on all sides that we're now emerging from that crisis. The path may have settled down again, but it's settled down leaving a much more empowered and informed community of consumers. It's settled down in a radically changed context, particularly when it comes to social communications networks.
As you will be aware, part of the Government’s response to the challenges of this new and challenging legal services environment is to be found in the Legal Services Regulation Bill which is to commence Report Stage in the Dáil on 17th July. This Bill represents not only a modernisation of the legal costs and legal services regimes augmented by an independent professional conduct regime for both solicitors and barristers, but also represents new opportunities in the way legal services can be provided.
At the same time, I recognise the need to maintain the integrity and high standards of the legal professions in the introduction of any new measures under the Bill. To that end I am engaged, along with officials of my Department, in ongoing consultations with the Law Society, the Bar Council, the King’s Inns and other stake-holders by way of avoiding any unintended outcomes and by way of optimising the Bill, its benefits and its impacts on legal practitioner and client alike.
A word to the people who leave here today, clutching their parchments...
You face a world of uncertainty. Your career path may buck and weave like the path in Lewis Carroll's book. But you're ahead of the posse - you're already part of that new generation of lawyers who go to work on tablets even on days that don't start with a headache.
You're now ready to shape the future of your profession and to further enhance the legal system. As well as being a mark of your professionalism and high standards, the parchment you have received today is your franchise to shape that future.
From the outside, the Law can look like a great, threatening, unchanging monolith.
I know it is a constantly changing and infinitely rewarding process that hugely influences Irish thought and action. I hope that's what it turns out to be, for each and every one of you.
LAW SOCIETY OF IRELAND
PRESENTATION OF PARCHMENTS & PRIZE
The Presidents’ Hall, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7
Thursday 26th June 2014
PPC II Prize
Thomson Reuter Prize : Linda O’Mahony [McNulty Boylan & Partners]
Presented by Catherine Dolan, Director Thomson Reuters
Presentation of Parchments
1. Linda O’Mahony [McNulty Boylan & Partners] Carraig-an-Bhfear, Co. Cork
2. Yvonne Czajkowski [Kane Tuohy] Castleconnell, Co. Limerick
3. Jonathan O’Brien [DAC Beachcroft] Woodtown, Dublin 16
4. Sinead Egan [Eugene F. Collins] Dundrum, Dublin 14
5. Susan Deasy [Eugene F. Collins] Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
6. Lisa Devanny [Eugene F. Collins] Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare
7. Orlagh Caffrey [Eugene F. Collins] Oldcastle, Co. Meath
8. John Darmody [Eugene F. Collins]Killarney, Co. Kerry
9. Jennifer Egan [Eugene F. Collins] Foxrock, Dublin 18
10. Ian Hutchinson [Eugene F. Collins] Waterford, Co. Waterford
11. Fionnuala Cullinane [Comyn Kelleher Tobin] Blackrock, Co. Cork
12. Angela Russell [Daly Derham Donnelly] Ballinlough, Co. Cork
13. Colm Keane [Foy Murphy & Co] Westport, Co. Mayo
14. Adele O'Herlihy [A& L Goodbody] Donnybrook, Dublin 4
15. Anna Moore [A& L Goodbody] Rhode, Co. Offaly
16. Aoife Durkin [A& L Goodbody] Glenageary, Co. Dublin
17. Bríd NicSuibhne [A& L Goodbody] Falcarragh, Co. Donegal
18. Caroline Hayes [A& L Goodbody] Dungarvan, Co. Waterford
19. Ciaran Ahern [A& L Goodbody] Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
20. Conor Dolphin [A& L Goodbody] Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
21. Conor McEneaney [A& L Goodbody] Ballinakill, Waterford
22. Eimear Fay [A& L Goodbody] Malahide, Co. Dublin
23. Emma Shine [A& L Goodbody] Sandymount, Dublin 4
24. Gina Keating [A& L Goodbody] Model Farm Road, Cork
25. Joe O'Doherty [A& L Goodbody] Ballinteer, Dublin 16
26. Joseph O'Neill [A& L Goodbody] Ardrahan, Co. Galway
27. Justine Hession [A& L Goodbody] Dundalk, Co. Louth
28. Mary Farrelly [A& L Goodbody] Trim, Co. Meath
29. Neal Breslin [A& L Goodbody] Clontarf, Dublin 3
30. Paul McGrath [A& L Goodbody] Newtownforbes, Co.Longford
31. Rachael Evans [A& L Goodbody] Athlone, Co. Roscommon
32. Róise Nic Ghráinne [A& L Goodbody] Shankill, Co. Dublin
33. Rowena Caulfield [A& L Goodbody] Castlerea, Co. Roscommon
34. Sinead Mitchell [A& L Goodbody] Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
35. Stephen Ahern [A& L Goodbody] Ovens, Co. Cork
36. Stephen King [A& L Goodbody] Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
37. Stephen Quinlivan [A& L Goodbody] Wexford Town, Co. Wexford
38. Theresa McSweeney [A& L Goodbody] Riverstick, Co. Cork
39. Susan Gordon [A& L Goodbody] Booterstown Avenue, Co. Dublin
40. Aideen Walsh [Brian A. Rennick] Drogheda, Co. Louth
41. Katie Mulroy [Callen Tansey] Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
42. Helen Boland [Richard Kennedy & Co] Athlone, Co. Westmeath
43. Laura Gormley [O’Grady’s] Donnybrook, Dublin 4
44. Eileen King [MacGowan’s] Drum, Co. Sligo
45. Melissa Kenny [Lyons Kenny] Naas, Co. Kildare
46. John Bollard [Patrick Donaghy & Co] Terenure, Dublin 6W
47. Claire McDermott [Flynn O’Driscoll] Ralee, Co. Kerry
48. Sarah O’Toole [Ahern Rudden] Killarney, Co. Kerry
49. Helen Dillon [Harrison O’Dowd] Castleknock, Dublin 15
50. Brian Murphy [Connolly Sellors Geraghty] Clarecastle, Co. Clare
51. Aongus McCarthy [Dillon Eustace] Bushypark, Co. Galway
52. Louise Johnston [Dillon Eustace] Longford, Co. Longford
53. Aifric Corkery [Dillon Eustace] Blackrock, Co. Dublin
54. Patricia McCarvill [John Gaynor & Co] Island Street, Co. Dublin
55. Adrian Neary [Hayes] Ballina, Co. Mayo
56. Rachel Lalor [William Fry]Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow
57. Liam Quinn [William Fry] Thurles, Co. Tipperary
58. Rosaleen Walsh [William Fry]Cappamore, Co. Limerick Confirmed
59. James Quaine [William Fry] Carrickboy, Co. Longford
60. Gerard Kelly [William Fry] Athleague, Co. Kerry
61. Louise Cunninghan [William Fry] Belfast, Co. Antrim
62. Anne Harkin [Anthony Joyce & Co] Clonmany, Co.
Donegal
63. Wayne Kenny [Hennessy & Perrozzi] Malahide, Co. Dublin
64. Rachel O’Malley [Hayes] Rathmines, Dublin 6
65. Jennifer Fawsitt [Hayes] Waterford Road, Kilkenny
66. Lisa -Marie Doyle [Anthony Barry] Athleague, Co. Roscommon
67. Tim Breen [Michael J. Breen] Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
68. Gavin FitzGerald [Dillon Eustace] Blackrock, Co. Dublin
69. Nicola Hand [O’Grady & O’Neill] Athlone, Co. Westmeath
70. Kerrie Fortune [Allied Irish Banks Legal Dept.] Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
71. Niamh O’Reilly [Paula McHugh & Co] Birr, Co. Offaly
72. Darina Bolger [Kevin Tunney] Knocklyon, Dublin 16
73. Peter Cronin [Flynn O’Driscoll] Goatstown, Dublin 14
74. Derek Dennisson [T P Robinson] Smithfield, Dublin 7
75. Lucy Kelleher [Michael Purcell & Co] Dripsey, Co. Cork
76. Jane Bourke [Adrian P. Bourke & Co] Ranelagh, Dublin 6
77. David Flood [Matheson] Terenure, Dublin 6W
78. Charlene Butler [John S. O’Sullivan] Tullow, Co. Carlow
79. Melissa Daly [James Watters & Co] Youghal, Co. Cork
80. Chris Joyce [Arthur Cox] Renmore, Co. Galway
81. Brian Clerkin [Maurice Leahy Wade & Co] Navan, Co. Meath
82. Warren Bolger [Sandra McAleer] Clontarf, Dublin 3
83. Deirdre Hayes [Joynt & Crawford] Phibsborough, Dublin 7
84. Brendan Houlihan [Gavin Burke] Howth, Co. Dublin
85. Eamonn McDonald [Bonn & Schmitt] Kilfinane, Co. Limerick
This list is subject to change