File 4 - Áras correspondence 1991 Part 4

49 pp

Correspondence and cuttings relating to BBC invite to President Mary Robinson (MR) to give the annual Dimbleby Lecture, the Government's refusal to allow her accept, the press reaction, and concern from both MR and the Taoiseach Charlie [Charles J] Haughey over leaks to the press. Includes correspondence from Hugh Purcell, producer, The Dimbleby Lecture, BBC Television to MR, 18/12/1990-27/02/1992, including letter asking Irish Government to reconsider, 08/05/1991 and renewal of invite 27/02/1992; formal invite from Mr Marmaduke Hussey, Chairman BBC, 26/03/1991; typed note from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, flagging there may be issues were she to discuss anything that may be at variance to Government, which PR and MR hadn't had a chance to address yet [early stages of her term], 10/04/1991; faxed copy of letter from Dermot Nally, Secretary to the Government, to PR, stating Government "agreed that it would be inappropriate for the President, as Head of State, to accept the invitation", 30/04/1991; photocopy of letter from MR to Taoiseach expressing her concern about "recent publicity given to the invitation" for her to deliver the Dimbleby Lecture and "media reports of allegations of breach of confidentiality on the part of [her] staff", and response from Taoiseach sharing concern, 18/06/1991; typed briefing note for MR's meeting with Taoiseach, covering the Dimbleby Lecture, and foreign invitations generally, as well as procedures, Northern Ireland, Domestic and Foreign policy, U.S. visit to Ireland, interpretive centre and Áras improvements, interviews/legal advice, meetings with Emigrants abroad, state visits and invitations to functions abroad, 19/06/1991; letter from Eve O'Kelly, member of public, to Taoiseach recording her disappointment that MR had not been allowed to accept invitation, 21/06/1991; letter from Monika Peveling, Director, Cork Womensplace Ltd., distancing the group from a campaign to "ungag" the president, 12/09/1991, press cutting re campaign, and letter and newsletter from Jo Hamshere, Co-editor, Cork Women’s News, stating they had agreed to support the same campaign ("Free Speech for President Mary Robinson Campaign"), 15/09/1991; The Daily Telegraph and Irish News press cuttings covering the Government's refusal to allow MR accept the invitation and taking the position that it was not for fear of what she may have said, but that Taoiseach was afraid she was upstaging him.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/2/4

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