Sir, - The Supreme Court found that the previous practice of the Law Society of Ireland of arbitrarily restricting the number of people becoming solicitors was illegal. The Law Society was permitted only to set objective standards for qualification as a solicitor and was compelled to accept anyone who satisfied these standards. The rationale was that anyone who satisfied the objective standards for qualification should not be prevented from pursuing his or her chosen profession. Similarly, anyone who satisfies objective standards for owning a pub licence (or indeed a taxi licence) should be able to obtain a licence on application. I suppose we must wait for a member of the public to take an action to have the Licensing Act 1902 (as amended) declared unconstitutional by the courts, rather than rely on the Government to vindicate the rights of its citizens and to uphold free competition. I wonder how much the publicans and the pub lobby have contributed to Fianna Fail and the PDs. I think we should be told. - Yours, etc.,
Fintan Clancy, Carlingford Road, Hampstead, London NW3.