I move that the Committee agree with the Seanad in amendment 3:—
Section 4. The section deleted and a new section substituted therefor as follows:—
"4.—(1) In addition to the examinations mentioned in Section 8 of the Solicitors (Ireland) Act, 1898, the Incorporated Law Society is hereby authorised and required to hold at least once in every year a first examination in the subject of the Irish language (in this Act referred to as a first examination in Irish), and a second examination in the subject of the Irish language (in this Act referred to as a second examination in Irish), and the provisions contained in the said Section 8 shall apply to every such examination in the subject of the Irish language in like manner as they apply to the examinations mentioned in that section save that such examinations in the subject of the Irish language shall be conducted only examiners for the time being approved of by the Minister for Education and that every second examination in Irish shall be so prescribed and conducted as to secure that persons who pass such examination have a competent knowledge of the Irish language.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Solicitors (Ireland) Act, 1898, no person shall be capable of being bound by indentures of apprenticeship to serve as an apprentice to a solicitor unless he has obtained from the Incorporated Law Society a certificate that he passed a first examination in Irish, and no person shall be admitted a solicitor unless he has obtained from the Incorporated Law Society a certificate that he has passed a second examination in Irish within one year before the expiration of the term of his apprenticeship or within one year before being so admitted."
This amendment brings about two slight changes. As it stands, the Bill says that Irish shall be a compulsory subject at every examination held by the Incorporated Law Society. There are three examinations held, the Preliminary, the Intermediate, and the Final. It was stated by some persons connected with the legal profession that it would be rather hard on students to have the Irish examinations at the same time. They propose that the Irish examination might or might not be held at the same time as the examination in law. Two examinations are provided for, a preliminary examination and a final examination. The second examination is to be held within one year of being admitted as a solicitor. It has been considered by the Seanad that this is a more suitable arrangement and that it will help towards a better working of the Bill. The other change proposed is that, instead of the Chief Justice being satisfied before admitting the candidate that that person possesses a competent knowledge of Irish, the examiners who are appointed by the Incorporated Law Society shall be approved by the Minister for Education. That disposes of Sections 4 and 5, and the changes made are really more suitable than the arrangements in the Bill originally. There was a difficulty with regard to the examination, but that is surmounted by the terms of this amendment.
