Law Society defends increase in president’s salary

The Law Society of Ireland has defended a decision to increase the salary of its part-time president to €115,000 per year.

The salary figure for 2016 represents an increase of €5,000 on the previous year.

Ken Murphy, director general of the Law Society, told The Irish Times that the generous salary “allows the president to take the considerable time away from his/her practice that the office requires, including the employment of an additional solicitor in the firm, to cover the president’s absence, if necessary”.

Mr Murphy added: “The role also involves considerable travel throughout the 12-month term.

“The hours involved are quite frequently outside normal working times, so apart from the professional commitment to the role, there is an enormous personal commitment required as well.”